ILOILO – In line with the observance of World Water Day today with the theme “Groundwater making the invisible visible”, the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) is appealing for the protection of groundwater.
Groundwater is water that has infiltrated the ground to fill the spaces between sediments and cracks in rock. Groundwater is fed by precipitation and can resurface to replenish streams, rivers, and lakes.
How can groundwater be protected? By planting trees, according to Mitzi Peñaflorida, senior environmental management specialist of PGENRO.
“Kon mananum kita sang kahoy nagabulig ini sia store sang aton water during summer. Amo na sia naga-provide sang tubig and the same man sa aton mangroves,” said Peñaflorida.
She also urged people to refrain from dumping garbage into sources or bodies of water which could contaminate them.
“Kon ara lang da nagalapta ang basura, ma-contaminate aton surface water, even down sa aton nga groundwater,” said Peñaflorida.
She also warned against the unregulated extraction of groundwater.
As part of raising public awareness on groundwater conservation and protection, the PGENRO launched a “bike and pick” campaign in Pavia town on March 19. There were an estimated 100 participants./PN
