Sec Loyzaga: Invest in rainwater collection

DENR, SM Prime calls on cities to innovate and invest in water-saving technologies to avert water crisis

At the multi-stakeholder forum, “Towards a Greener Footprint”, in Iloilo City recently, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga shared solutions-focused guidelines to help the local government reduce carbon footprint, with emphasis on water conservation to address the looming water crisis and increase access to safe water and sanitation. From left to right: Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas, journalist Ces Drilon, Secretary Loyzaga, urban planning and landscape architect Paulo Alcazaren, United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) co-chair Michaela Rossette Santo-Tayag and SM Supermalls Vice President for Corporate Compliance Liza Silerio. Photo credits to Arnold Almacen/Iloilo City Office of the Mayor.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), a prominent real estate developer in Southeast Asia, have recently urged local government officials to refrain from extracting groundwater. Instead, they are advocating for the adoption of rainwater collection methods for recycling and storage. Additionally, they are encouraging the exploration of innovative technologies like modular desalination and modular sewage treatment plants to effectively address the impact of climate change on the water resources of the country.

At the multi-stakeholder forum, “Towards a Greener Footprint”, in Iloilo City recently, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga shared solutions-focused guidelines to help the local government reduce carbon footprint, with emphasis on water conservation to address the looming water crisis and increase access to safe water and sanitation.

“We need to invest in the appropriate engineering and infrastructure to deliver water from the source,” Secretary Loyzaga said. “We must avoid, if not reduce drastically, the extraction of groundwater which in low-lying coastal areas causes subsidence and increases flooding.”

“Rainwater catchments will not only provide additional supply for household use but will also help ensure the availability of surface water through the maintenance of watershed cover when impounded,” Secretary Loyzaga said.

According to the most recent findings by the Philippine Statistics Authority, there was a rise in self-withdrawn water, which went up from 215.2 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2020 to 217.8 bcm in 2021 across the entire country. Over the period spanning 2010 to 2021, the primary user of self-withdrawn water was the power sector, accounting for the largest share at 58.7%. Following closely was agriculture at 33.5%, while the combined usage by mining, quarrying, manufacturing, and construction sectors stood at 5.3%. Lastly, the services sector and households constituted 2.6% of the total self-withdrawn water.

Earlier this month, the DENR said the country still has enough water supply, but proper management is needed to prevent a possible water crisis by the end of the year.

The appeal garnered a strong and enthusiastic reaction from the private sector, with SM Prime being notably prominent. During the same event, Engr. Liza B. Silerio, the Vice President for Corporate Compliance at SM Supermalls, highlighted how SM Prime has elevated its sustainability initiatives, building upon the groundwork established when SM Supermalls initiated water recycling back in the 1990s.

Incorporating strategies like rainwater collection to mitigate flooding in the areas surrounding its malls, SM Prime has also taken the lead in introducing a novel rainwater filtration system within its mall premises. This innovative system converts collected rainwater into a quality suitable for various purposes, including washing, cleaning, and even consumption. This initiative was first introduced at SM City Baguio and is designed to provide mall tenants with a reliable source of potable water, thus reducing their reliance on the local community's water resources.

“As an integrated property developer, we have seen the first-hand effects of natural hazards that are caused by the change in weather patterns in the Philippines,” Engr. Silerio explained. “El Nino and La Nina are two phenomena resulting from climate change. Our country ranks number one in the World Risk Index 2022 report as the most vulnerable among 193 nations.”

Faced with this challenge, Engr. Silerio shared that SM Prime will continue to find innovative ways to address the climate challenges. “We continue to evolve and adapt technology to improve our resource consumption as part of our climate action,” she concluded.