MARCH 22, 2024 – The Zamboanga City Water District conducted an educational tour of the Pasonanca Watershed located at the Pasonanca Natural Park (PaNP) for members of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation and Universidad de Zamboanga in celebration of World Water Day with the theme: Water for Peace.
ZCWD Acting General Manager (AcGM) Reynaldo R. Cabilin formally welcomed the participants followed by inspirational messages from SK Federation National President, and National Youth Commissioner Hon. Carol Julianne โCJโ Dalipe, ZCWD Board of Directors represented by Director John Federick P. Ruiz, and Assistant General Manager (AGM) for the Technical Services Group (TSG) Engr. Marli Acosta-De Fiesta. Atty. Anne Aubrey De Guzman-Bugtong, OIC for the Watershed and Environment Management Division (WEMD) discussed the ZCWD’s role in the PaNP. PaNP Protected Area Superintendent (PaSu) For. Domiliza B. Campaner then narrated the story of how the PaNP was declared an ASEAN Heritage Park last (confirm date 2020), a prestige that few other sites share in the ASEAN Region.
The participants, consisting of SK members of various barangays, and members from Universidad de Zamboanga through the External Affairs and Institutional Development Center, in collaboration with the Safety, Health and Environment Services and Department of Student Affairs and Services where representatives from the universityโs students from the high school to college level, faculty and staff, and newly employed ZCWD staff as part of their training were able to tour the area with assistance from ZCWD’s Environment and Water Resources Department starting from the diversion weir, to the nurseries which care the growth of various plant species and attended sessions on the various flora and fauna that can be found within the strict protected zone facilitated by For. Lee Roy M. Delos Reyes and Mr. Agaton M. Baysa.
This activity was also conducted in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the ZCWD with the aim of educating the youth leaders and students on the importance of the PaNP in providing water for the people of Zamboanga and sustaining the local wildlife, and encouraging them to become agents of change in their own way to help preserve such vital yet finite resource. This was commemorated through a commitment signing by the participants of the event and as well as the ZCWD Management.
