Schools across Ilocos Norte are strengthening water conservation efforts, encouraging students, teachers, and school personnel to use water responsibly amid concerns over water availability and the potential impacts of prolonged dry conditions.
The initiative promotes simple but meaningful practices that can help schools reduce unnecessary water consumption while teaching students the importance of protecting one of the country’s most valuable resources.
In schools, water is essential for drinking, handwashing, cleaning, sanitation, and other daily activities. With hundreds of students using school facilities, even small amounts of wasted water can add up.
“Our students are being encouraged to turn off faucets properly, report leaks, avoid unnecessary water use, and use only the amount they need,” Dr. Rolen Oracion, principal of the Eladio B. Barangan Memorial Elementary School in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, said in an interview on Thursday.
In preparation for a strong El Niño, expected in the next six months, based on the forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Oracion said she hopes to have more rainwater catchment facilities in her school as they only have one unit at the moment.
Meanwhile, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte, led by Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, has begun installing model rainwater catchment facilities, particularly in big schools, such as the Ilocos Norte College of Arts and Trades and Ilocos Norte National High School.
“The installation of rainwater facilities is now ongoing in big schools, and we hope to expand it to other schools, including the different towns and cities of the province,” Marcell Tabije, provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer, said in an interview.
Ilocos Norte, like other agricultural areas in the country, can be affected by prolonged dry spells and reduced water availability, according to the weather bureau.
Water conservation in schools is part of a broader community effort to prepare for conditions, such as El Niño, which can place additional pressure on water resources. (PNA)
