The Department of the Interior and Local Government Region XII actively participated in the celebration of World Water Day on March 24, 2021. The one-day celebration aims to help raise global awareness on the importance of freshwater in support to the achievement of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6: Water and Sanitation by 2030.

The department conducted a symposium at the Regional Office XII with the theme, “World Water Day: Valuing Water” that discussed about the value of water not just for households but also for the national economy, education and health. The DILG field offices personnel also attended the said event via Zoom and Facebook Live.

As the resource speaker, Environmental Management Bureau-Department of Environment and Natural Resources (EMB-DENR) Environment Specialist Engr. Marc Louise M. Failon emphasized the scarcity of fresh water in our planet and how our trees are dubbed as “rarer than diamonds”. He also explained the process of testing the safety of liquid in a body of water and the parameters to determine its classification and potability.

DILG XII Regional Director, Josephine Cabrido-Leysa, CESO III, spearheaded the Bamboo Growing activity following thereafter at the Riverside, Barangay Concepcion, City of Koronadal. Three hundred bamboo seedlings, sponsored by Mahintana Foundation Inc., were planted by the DILG XII alongside with Barangay Concepcion officials led by Punong Barangay Mema L. Joquiño.

The tree growing activity intends to prevent soil erosion in the riverbanks and eventually reduce the chances of overflow to the riversides adjacent to neighboring barangays. As one of the fastest-growing plants, bamboos are known to easily grow in almost any type of fertile soil.