VALENCIA City, Bukidnon – Administrator Lorenzo H. Jamora of the Local Water Utilities Administration sounded the call for everyone to support the effort of the government and non-governmental organizations (NGO) in preserving, protecting and properly managing the environment, most especially the maintenance and expansion of watershed areas.

Jamora made the call before officials and guests of water districts in this province even as he ask them to help one another in pursuing programs or projects that would redound to the benefit of the general public.

At the same time, the LWUA Administrator lauded the newly-formed Bukidnon Association of Water Districts (BAWD) and the Valencia City Water District (VCWD) for boosting the provincial water supply program of the government through the development of watershed projects in their respective concession areas.

Speaking before the induction of the new set of officers of the BAWD, which coincided with the 26th anniversary of the VCWD, Jamora stressed the need for water districts to organize themselves in the provincial level to be self-governing and self-sufficient.

“BAWD fulfilled the dream of LWUA to have a technical body and organization which will share the expertise and assistance of big water districts to others especially the small water district,” Jamora told the newly-elected BAWD officers and representatives of other water districts of nearby provinces.

The LWUA chief also challenged the BAWD and VCWD to spread the words and deliver better service to the community in the form of safe and potable drinking water.

Bukidnon Representative J.R. Nereus O. Acosta lauded the working relationship of LWUA and the water districts and also dared the new BAWD officers to preserve the environment by maintaining the watershed and to avoid politicizing of the provincial water sector.

Meanwhile the anniversary celebration of the VCWD culminated in a tree planting activity at the VCWD Watershed and Nature Park, a seven hectare land owned by the water district.

Joined by at least 200 students from the System Technology Institute (STI), Valencia Colleges, Infant Jesus Scholl of Bukidnon and San Agustin Institute of Technology, Jamora with Belino Epie, Sr. Forester Management Specialist of DENR Region 10, planted premium specie of Luwaan seedling.

Aside from the General Managers as BAWD officers, the organization is also composed of Board of Directors who are the Board Chairmen of the six water districts in Bukidnon namely Atty. Abundio Okit, Dr. Victorino Peralta, Atty. Quirino Eroisa, Conrado Micayabas, Dr. Concepcion Villalon and Ignacio Lanticse.c