Water for People, Ecosystems and Biodiversity

To celebrate World Wetlands Day 2021 and highlighting this year’s theme which is “Wetlands and Water”, the Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands (SCPW) spearheaded an activity dubbed as “Water for People, Ecosystems and Biodiversity” to underscore the connection between water and life.  Also featured in the event was the launching of the video making contest of the SCPW for high school students as well as the announcement of  the year-long activities of the SCPW in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention.

Objectives

  1. To increase the awareness and appreciation of the general public on the importance of wetlands to securing water for people, ecosystems and biodiversity.
  2. To launch the video-making contest for high school students titled “Stories About Water and Wetlands”.
  3. To introduce the year-long activities of the SCPW in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention.

The event was held 06 February 202 and was livestreamed on the SCPW FaceBook Page and SCPW YouTube Channel.  It was in partnership with the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources,  Philippine Water Partnership,  and ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity.

Watch the event online via Youtube. Check out the SCPW YouTube Channel.

Opening Program

To open the Program, the President of SCPW, Arch. Celestino B. Ulep was there to welcome the attendees.  This was followed by Messages from partners:   Mr. Christopher Ilagan, Chair of the Philippine Water Partnership; Dr. Henry A. Adornado, Director of the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau; and Ms. Amelita DJ Ortiz, Assistant Director and OIC, Office of the Director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau.

Keynote Message

Senator Cynthia A. Villar, Chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources in the House of Senate was the Keynote Speaker.  She extensively discussed why the celebration of the World Water Day this year is very special.  She also gave an update of the progress of Senate Bills on Wetlands.

Presentation

The first presentation was “Water for People” which was presented by Engr. Francisco Arellano, Technical Consultant of the Maynilad Water Services and Lecturer of the University of the Philippines.   “Water for Ecosystems and Biodiversity” was the second presentation by Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim, the Executive Director of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity.

Presentations of the guest speakers can be accessed/downloaded at our knowledge database.

 

Launching of Video-Making Competition

The “Stories About Water and Wetlands” Video-Making Contest was launched.

REGISTER HERE:
https://forms.gle/FDx1MAGyKLg5r2eE7  Registration is open until February 19, 2021.

GUIDELINES AND MECHANICS

To all interested high school students (Grades 7 to 10), click here for Guidelines and Mechanics on how to join the “Stories about Wetlands and Water Video-Making Contest”.  .

Ms. Amy M. Lecciones, the Vice President and Executive Director  of SCPW,  closed the event  by announcing the year-long activities of the SCPW in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention.  The livestreaming of the event was joined by various stakeholders including members of the CLEAR Youth Network in the Laguna de Bay Region and Youth Eco-campers in Batangas.

The Society for the Conservation of Philippine Wetlands, Inc. spearheads the annual celebration of World Wetlands Day in the Philippines.