MIWD focuses celebration of World Water Day on sanitation
With the theme of 2008 World Water Day centered on sanitation having this year declared by the United Nations as International Year of Sanitation, Metro Iloilo Water District will focus its activities on water, hygiene and sanitation.
MIWD kicked off with its activity by conducting a series of barangay dialogues in Iloilo City. Dubbed as “Hinun-anon sa Barangay”, the dialogue is a continuing undertaking aimed at bringing the water consumers closer to the hearts of MIWD whereby they will have the chance to air their views, comments, complaints and reactions on the Water District's programs, operation and services.
It will be a means, too, of keeping the public informed on the proper practices on hygiene and sanitation and ways of using water.
MIWD will also coordinate with the Department of Health, Regional Office VI and the Local Water Utilities Administration for a forum on health, hygiene and sanitation intended for barangay health workers within the MIWD service area.
This series of dialogues will be held in Iloilo City and the neighboring municipalities of Pavia, Santa Barbara, Cabatuan, Maasin, Oton, and San Miguel.
The global celebration of World Water Day was the result of the United Nations 1992 declaration of March 22 of each year as the world day of water. Realizing the utmost importance of raising public awareness of the world's most natural resource, the declaration was in conformity with the recommendations of the UN Conference on Environment and Development held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil also in 1992.
In the Philippines, former Pres. Fidel V. Ramos issued Administrative Order No. 258 on March 4, 1994 enjoining all instrumentalities of the government to join the global observance of World Water Day, and to start the 1996 water conservation year.
The themes for each year come from the UN. Sometimes, however, sub-themes are adopted to reflect local concern.
The UN General Assembly declared the year 2008 the International Year of Sanitation. Consequently, World Water Day 2008, which will be celebrated this year, will highlight issues on sanitation in accordance with the Year. People around the world are encouraged to celebrate the day to draw attention to the world's sanitation challenge.