CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma has issued pastoral statement supporting the implementation of a national policy for an integrated water resource management.
Palma’s statement came during the signing of a memorandum of cooperation entered into by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 and 32 institutions creating the Central Cebu River Basins Management Council.
These institutions comprise the national government agencies, local government units, non-government organizations, and other stakeholders.
Palma, chairman of the CCRBMC, said rivers are like the blood veins of the Earth.
He said rivers “nurture the Earth by the water that flows through the land, the source for a variety of water uses for agriculture purposes, energy, environmental requirements, navigation recreation and basically for domestic uses.”
Palma said the management of these water resources is like an intertwining web of functions that oftentimes fail to achieve its optimum results.
“Now after 19 years of Cebu’s continued struggle to achieve sustainable management of water resources cutting across all sectors, I pray with you that we will be enlightened by the Holy Spirit and with hearts moved by the same spirit to unify ourselves amidst human diversity to better see things with one goal,” Palma said. —(FREEMAN)