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MANILA, Philippines — In light of the challenges faced by climate change, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said on Tuesday that the government has begun investigating alternative potential groundwater sources.

In a virtual World Water Day celebration, DENR Acting Secretary Jim Sampulna emphasized the importance of ensuring a sustainable supply of clean water, given that groundwater accounts for 30% of freshwater resources, which must be extracted and managed to meet the demands of the world’s growing population.

“Groundwater is a critical resource that necessitates our management and balancing act between extraction and allowing for the recovery and sustainable management of aquifers for long-term beneficial use of our people,” Sampulna added.

Tagbilaran, Batangas, Cavite, Masbate, Laguna, and Bulacan are among the potential groundwater sources being investigated by the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), according to the DENR.

Ramoncito Fernandez, president and CEO of Maynilad, emphasized the importance of increasing talks about groundwater studies in order to secure an equal supply of drinking water for future generations.

“With climate change threatening our water sources, it’s vital to manage our groundwater sources sustainably,” he added. “We need to make the invisible visible by bringing groundwater preservation conversations into the mainstream.”

At the same ceremony, 14 “water champions” from across the country were honored for their outstanding water irrigation, treatment, and urban management methods.

According to the DENR, their best practices are critical in addressing issues such as rising demand vs limited supply, poor water quality owing to pollution, and climate change, among others.

In addition to the World Water Day Awards, the DENR’s Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau presented an online webinar to coincide with the event.

Reg Winlove Bungabong, a Senior Science Research Specialist, emphasized the need of water treatment management in today’s world to maintain access to safe drinking water.

“Kumukuha lang sila ng water from the spring, kahit yung iba diretso nang umiinom sa river, compared siguro noong mga panahon ng ancestor natin.” However, ‘yung mga data ng mga monitoring talaga natin ng mg water systems natin may mga pollutants na talaga sa tubig, so hindi na siya pwedeng inumin na hindi natin tini-treat ‘yung tubig natin However, monitoring of our water systems has shown pollutants in water sources, and we are no longer able to drink untreated water),” he explained.

Access to safe drinking water and sanitation for all is the sixth of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which must be met by 2030.

As of 2020, the Philippines’ share of the population utilizing “safely managed” drinking water is 47.46 percent, according to the SDG Tracker.

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