The Metropolitan Naga Water District (MNWD) has once again spearheaded the Water Conservation and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Caravan 2019 in partnership with the Rotary Club of Naga (RCN) with its kick-off activity held at Villa Grande Homes (VGH) Elementary School, Concepcion Grande, Naga City on July 22, 2019.

The program was designed to support the schools in the effective implementation of Water Conservation and WASH in line with Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 10 “Policy and Guidelines on the Comprehensive Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in Schools (WinS) Program” in recognition of the importance of WASH in schools to achieve the learning outcomes for children. Also, it aims to empower the public especially the children as future stewards of our water resources to ensure its sustainability and efficient use. The program likewise encourages the development of healthy behaviours through WASH interventions such as handwashing and brushing of teeth.

Pupils from Kindergarten to Grade III level of VGH Elementary School enjoyed the animation videos showing the importance of water and helpful tips on how to save it. These practical tips hope to instil among children the proper behaviour on how to value and use water in school as well as in their respective household.

Welcomed by the School Principal Yvette DS. San Juan, the caravan team both represented by the MNWD and the Rotary Club of Naga. Dir. Agileo Michael R. Pauig and Dir. Monina Lily A. Claveria greeted the pupils and reemphasized the need to conserve water and how children can participate in this endeavour.

RCN President Engr. Dennis SJ. Caramoan, in his interview, reaffirmed RCN’s support to the program. Further, he told the pupils to always observe proper hygiene so that they remain healthy and strong in order for them to pursue their dreams later in life.

For 2 consecutive years now, the Rotary Club of Naga has been MNWD’s strong support in this initiative. Their partnership has immensely helped MNWD in the full implementation of the program – reaching more schools within its service coverage area.

Apart from the collaborative effort of MNWD and RCN, the Water Conservation and WASH Caravan is likewise supported by the local government unit of Naga thru the City Population and Nutrition Office (CPNO), DepEd Naga and Camarines Sur, and our media partners and members of the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Camarines Sur chapter.

For 2019, the caravan team from MNWD’s Public Relations and External Affairs Section (PREAS) is looking at 18 schools as beneficiaries of the program with 4 of them already visited during its first week run: VGH Elementary School, Villa Corazon Elementary School, San Rafael Elementary School SPED Center, and Julian B. Meliton Elementary School.

The Water Conservation and WASH Caravan is one of the avenues that MNWD has created in order to ingrain social responsiveness among customers and stakeholders. Through the caravan we are reminded of our individual roles to secure and protect our water resources. And this can only be fully achieved when people are properly educated and empowered to take on the role and accountability as a responsible member of the community. (Auria S. Gonzales)

Dir. Monina Lily A. Claveria greeted the pupils and gave a brief introduction about the program during the kick-off event of the Water Conservation and WASH Caravan 2019 at Villa Grande Homes Elementary School.

Dir. Agileo Michael R. Pauig delivering a short message during the caravan at Julian B. Meliton Elementary School.

Engr. Dennis SJ. Caramoan in his interview with ABS-CBN Bicol affirming the support of the Rotary Club of Naga to the MNWD’s WASH program.

WASH INTERVENTIONS. Group hand washing and brushing of teeth, two of the highlights in the Water Conservation and WASH Caravan program apart from the lecture on how to use water efficiently and responsibly.