Pushing for the Sustainable Use of Water | GMANetwork.com - Corporate - Articles

  This is the transcript of the speech delivered by GMA Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon during the Forum on the Environment held on June 7, 2011 at the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Commerce and Industry Plaza, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. 

Pushing for the Sustainable Use of Water

June 16 2011

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the transcript of the speech delivered by GMA Chairman and CEO Atty. Felipe L. Gozon during the Forum on the Environment held on June 7, 2011 at the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Commerce and Industry Plaza, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.  Atty. Gozon is also the Vice President for Environment of the PCCI.


Ladies and gentlemen,  good afternoon.

In the past few years, we have witnessed how even the strongest man-made infrastructure and latest technology were no match to natural disasters in different parts of the world. Just recently, a devastating tsunami brought the mighty Japan to its knees. Continuing threats of earthquakes, volcano eruptions, rampaging floods — which are happening more frequently than before – may be considered Mother Nature’s warnings or wake-up calls to all of us.

As we celebrate World Environment Day today, another crisis looms in our midst – a silent crisis that does not make the headlines, but is so serious that the very lives of our children, grandchildren and future generations, depend on it.

The  World Water Council, an international multi-stakeholder platform, reports:
“There is a water crisis today. But the crisis is not about having too little water to satisfy our needs. It is a crisis of managing water so badly that billions of people – and the environment – suffer badly.”

Hence, the time to discuss the sustainable use of water was yesterday and the time for solutions is now.

In a country as blessed with natural resources as the Philippines, water appears to be abundant. But a closer look at the numbers, tell a different story:

·         97.5 percent of the world’s water is in the form of salt water in seas and oceans

·         about 70% of the remaining 2.5 percent of fresh water is frozen in polar icebergs and glaciers

·         and, fresh water that is available for the needs of both man and the environment represents barely 1 percent of the earth’s total water mass

Water is life.  It is an indispensable natural resource and the responsible management of water is an absolute necessity.

In the Philippines, the per capita water availability is on the wane.  From the current average annual water availability of 4,500 cubic meters per capita, it is estimated to decline to 3,200 cubic meters in 2025.

The increase in population, urbanization and industrialization continue to put pressure on available water supplies.  The increasing demand for potable water results in over extraction and over-depletion of ground water. Pollution and climate change also threaten our water resources.

To help mitigate this dire situation, we at the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry initiated a nationwide campaign on the sustainable use of water in 2010.
Simply put, we have decided that now is the time to care. Tomorrow may be too late.
That is why the PCCI conducted seminars and fora on water conservation techniques as well as new and alternative technologies and best practices, among which is our Rainwater and Ground Harvesting session last year.

Aside from conducting seminars, PCCI also continues to issue regular Environment e-Bulletins containing articles and news items on environment, tips and best practices on water conservation. You, as PCCI members, can contribute articles or share your best practices thru this e-Bulletin, too.

Recognizing the importance of watershed protection and conservation, we continue to encourage companies, industry associations and local chambers to lead or support initiatives to protect critical areas.

Some of our members like Manila Water, Landbank of the Philippines and Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines have already adopted some critical watersheds as part of their corporate social responsibility or CSR programs.

We also inked an agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to support the implementation of a nationwide campaign on sustainable use of water.

Last year, we launched the Green Philippines Islands of Sustainability (GPIoS) project which seeks to improve environmental and sustainable industrial development of Metro Manila and CALABARZON.  It seeks to reduce pollution levels and increase resource efficiency levels in companies in the pilot areas using the Eco-profit Approach which is built on the triple bottom approach – Planet, People and Profit.

You and your company can be one of us, too, in the campaign to conserve water and use this very valuable resource responsibly.

We also have the ECOFOCUS PROGRAMME which focuses on Energy Conservation and Waste Management and Material Flow Analysis.

For micro and small companies, the ECOSENSE PROGRAMME should be the best option. This is a one-day seminar and workshop that gives an overview of the ECOPROFIT Concept.

Finally, we also have the CLUB PROGRAMME for companies that have obtained basic Certification. This program guides companies towards maintaining and improving the social, economic and environmental benefits obtained through the Ecoprofit Approach.
Friends and fellow-PCCI members, you are more than welcome to join any of these programs. They are all free of charge and the only thing that we ask of you is your commitment to see these programs through.

PCCI also continues to be a major force in advocacy, particularly on critical environmental issues. We conduct regular Environment Committee Meetings where we discuss current and critical environmental issues.

We also hold regular dialogues with relevant government agencies such as the DENR and the Climate Change Commission (CCC). Foremost among the issues being discussed are those relating to the implementation of environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Ecological Solid Waste and the Climate Change Act.

Indeed, the time to act is NOW. And the opportunity to make a difference is up to you, right where you are — from boardrooms to production rooms, from drawing up technological roadmaps to manufacturing floors, from offices to homes. Yes, we all have crucial roles in passing on a healthy, clean and liveable planet to our children and our children’s children.

Of course, at the end of the day, what matters most is what Benjamin Franklin once said (and I quote):

“Well done is better than well said.”

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