USAID launches handbook on water security reportage

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 9): USAID launches handbook on water security reportage

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Water Security for Resilient Economic Growth and Stability (Be Secure) Project has launched a handbook to guide journalists in reporting on water security.

The handbook titled “Reporting on Water Security: A Guide to Journalists” was launched on Wednesday during a media forum on water security and climate change in Makati City.

Senator Loren Legarda, Senate Committee on Climate Change chairperson and the forum’s keynote speaker, and Clay Epperson, USAID-Philippines deputy mission director, led the launching of the handbook.

“Water is a basic need, yet it is a resource that we have taken for granted,” Legarda told the forum participants.

“This handbook provides you with quick access to information on water and climate change issues and proposed solutions so that you can easily incorporate these into your mainstream media reporting,” Be Secure Project stated on the handbook.

As partner for change, the Be Secure Project recognized the important role the media can play in raising the volume on water security issues; bringing attention to solutions; and educating, informing, and inspiring people to take action.

The 60-page handbook content’s are the following: why address water issues?; water resources in the Philippines; how does climate change impact our water resources?; Philippine laws and programs pertaining to water, sanitation and climate change; how can we ensure long-term water security in the Philippines?;

Reforming the Philippine water sector and establishing a water regulatory commission; amending the Philippine water code; mainstreaming water demand management; promoting sustainable sanitation; increasing climate resiliency of water resources; suggested topics for articles on water and climate change; and, water alliance.

Be Secure Project said that water scarcity in the Philippines is caused by many factors, including climate change, the country’s growing population, and inefficient water use.

“Public awareness activities on water issues to influence policies, practices, and initiatives are an important task that you, the media, can take on. Earning commitment from decision-makers to prioritize these issues will positively affect the lives of millions of Filipinos who are already experiencing or facing the prospect of water-scarce future.”

“Let us not wait for the well to be dried before we act because by then it would have been already too late,” Legarda said during the forum.

The forum was attended by mediamen, local government officials and water district officials from the cities of Bacolod, Cagayan del Oro and Zamboanga.

Among the topics discussed during the forum were water security and sanitation challenges in the Philippines; climate resilience of water resources and water demand management; and, experiences of partners on water security, sanitation and climate change.

The forum’s resource speakers aside from Legarda and Epperson included Ramon Alikpala, senior technical adviser of USAID Be Secure Project; Elisea Gozun, climate resiliency team leader of USAID Be Secure Project; Eng’r. Rodrigo Sicat, Zamboanga City planning and development coordinator; Rachel Beja, Cagayan de Oro Water District general manager; Eng’r. Rowena Calasara, Central Philippine University faculty; and, Arnel Cabungcal, Quality, Safety and Environment director of Coca-Cola ASEAN business unit.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=962360