To continuously promote environmental consciousness among the members of the organization, the Port Management Office Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro (PMO MO/C), in partnership with the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) and National Water Resources Board (NWRB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), held an Online Environmental Awareness Seminar on 18 March 2021. The two-part online event is one of the PMO initiatives in celebration of this year’s World Water Day and World Wildlife Day.
For the first part of the seminar, Mr. Raul A. Pallares from the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) discussed the multidimensional value of safe and clean water for the environment, economy, and the community in connection to the World Water Day 2021 theme: Valuing Water. World Water Day is celebrated annually to raise awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without water and to take action on the existing global water crisis.
To further raise awareness of the country’s rich biodiversity, the second resource speaker, Ms. Pearly Mae N. Bernaldez from the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources tackled the significance of having a healthy ecosystem which is beneficial for humankind and other living organisms. She also highlighted the benefits and services of biodiversity as well as the major drivers of biodiversity loss and ways to recover from it. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 3 as the World Wildlife Day for the appreciation of various wild flora and fauna across the world and for the recognition of the benefits from conserving them.
The webinar ended with a virtual tour of the Regional Wildlife Rescue Center at DENR-10 where rescued or turned-over wildlife species from all over the region, such as the Crested Serpent Eagle and Philippine Sailfin Lizard, were showcased. The Regional Wildlife Rescue Center provides temporary shelter and rehabilitation to wildlife species before they are released into the wild.
The webinar was participated by PPA personnel and representatives from various port service providers.
Tidbits: World Water Day 2021
Water has been an indispensable part of the lives of the people and the society, gaining a complex value—from household use, to its utilization in agriculture and industries, up to its role in the economy. Thus, the celebration of the World Water Day this 2021 is themed, “Valuing Water,” that calls for collective action towards protection of the water resources in line with the continuing support to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 6: clean water and sanitation for all.
Did you know?
- Today, 1 in 3 people live without safe drinking water.
- By 2050, up to 5.7 billion people could be living in areas where water is scarce for at least one month a year.
- Climate-resilient water supply and sanitation could save the lives of more than 360,000 infants every year.
- If we limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, we could cut climate-induced water stress by up to 50%.
- Extreme weather has caused more than 90% of major disasters over the last decade.
- By 2040, global energy demand is projected to increase by over 25% and water demand is expected to increase by more than 50%.
Source: https://www.un.org/en/observances/water-day
Did you know?
In 2019, the Port Management Office of Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro celebrated the World Water Day by actively taking part in the barangay-wide clean-up drive in Barangay Macabalan, Cagayan de Oro City together with a number of civic organizations and government agencies.
The PMO personnel laboriously collected assorted wastes from the drainage canals (“estero”) that are connected to the Macajalar Bay. An estimated total of 80 kilograms of garbage were collected by the PMO alone.