Kahalagahan ng Tubig

Kaka Alih Sept 24, 2008

 (script para sa programang “Bantay Bayan Boses ng Sambayanan” sa segment “Bantay Kalikasan” Sept. 24, 2008-7:00-8:00-anchor-Lenyrose Bajar at co-anchor script writer/segment producer-Alih S. Anso)

Alam natin na mahalaga ang tubig sa buhay ng tao, hayop at sa iba pang nilalang ng Diyos. Hindi yata tayo    mabubuhay ng walang tubig.  Ayon sa pag-aaral, ang mundong ating sinilangan ay  may kabuuan na 97% na  karagatan (tubig dagat), 2% ang naging yelo sa North at South poles 1% ilog tabang,  mga lawa, mga natatagong balon at bukal.

Sa katawan naman ng tao ay  70%   ay tubig.  Sabi nga nila  matitiis mong magutom ng isang linggo, ngunit kapag nawala ang  tubig tiyak patay ka.

Nilikha ng Diyos ang tubig para sa tao at kanyang mga nilikaha, ngunit walang nakakaalam kung saan nanggaling ang tubig.  Ang alam natin  ito’y paikot-ikot lang sa mundong ito.  Ito’y pumapatak na ulan sa lupa, pagkatapos ay muling nagbabalik sa kalawakan sa paghigop ng init ng araw at sa pamamagitan ng mga halaman.

Noong unang panahon,   tao ang lumalapit sa tubig dahil sa kakulangan ng teknolohiya, di alam ng tao ang    paraan  upang lumapit ang tubig sa kanya.

Dahil ang tao ay binigyan ng Diyos ng talino, (siyang nating pasalamatan araw-araw sa Poong Lumikha) di nagtagal ay natuto syang humukay ng balon para mapalapit sa kanya ang tubig.  At iyan kapatid na nakikinig   ang kauna-unahang “water system”  na hanggang sa ngayon ay ginagamit  pa rin, lalo na sa tulad natin sa Upi.

Hindi nagtagal ay muling nakatuklas ng ibang teknolohiya ang angkan ni Adam,  sa mga pook na may bukal o ilog, natuklasan ng tao na maaari palang mapaagos sa mga bahay ang tubig sa pamamagitan ng kawayan, at kalaunan   tubo na bakal at ngayon ay matigas na plastic .

Sa ngayon iba’t-iba ang pinanggagalingan ng tubig.  May umaagos mula sa bundok.  May siyudad naman na sa ilog at lawa umaasa.  Ang iba ay  humuhukay sila ng malalim hanggang sa bumukal ang tubig o yaong tinatawag na deep well.

Noong unang panahon, ang tubig ay pinakukulo at sinasala, upang ito’y luminaw at maging masarap inumin gaya sa India, may 4,000 taon na ang nakakaraan.

Sa Ehipto noong araw, sa ilog Nilo  sila sumasalok ng inumin at ito’y tinitinggal nila sa malalaking tapayan.  Pagkatapos na tumining ang buhangin at putik ang tubig ay hinihigop.

Sa Gresya ay ganoon din…pinakukulo at sinasala ang tubig.  Iyon ang turo sa kanila ni Hipocrates, ang Ama ng mga Manggagamot.

Taong 1850 nang matuklasan ng mga dalubhasa na ang tubig ay maaaring magdala ng sakit, kaya sinasala nila itong mabuti bago gamitin.  Ang mikrobyo at iba pang karumihan ay naibubukod sa paraang ito.  Pero ang mga mikrobyo gaya ng tipos ay napakaliit para masala at ang iba naman ay sa loob mismo ng mga tubo dumadami.

Pero ang sadyang may angking talino na biyaya ng diyos, natuklasan nito na ang klorina (chlorine)  ay mabisang pamatay-mikrobyo, na kinikilala ngayon sa buong mundo.  Kaya’t halos lahat ng malaking siyudad ay nagkoklorina na ng tubig-inumin.

Maraming teknilohiya ang nadiskubre ng tao, tulad halimbawa na ang tubig  sa ilog, ay pinaaagos sa mga daluyang may sala, nang di pasukin ng isda at iba pang naaanod na bagay. Kong nasa tangke na ito  ay hinahaluan naman ng mga sangkap na gamot upang tumining ang dumi.  Kong minsan may mga gamut (chemical) ang inihahalo ditto para sumarap ang lasa, maging sariwa ang tubig at mapawi ang kulay at masamang amoy.    

Ang iba naman ang  “ginamot” (treated) na tubig ay pinaaagos sa sadyang tinggalan (maaring tangke o semento na doon iniimbak ang tubig)  at dito pinatitining ang iba pang mabibigat at naglutang na dumi pagkatapos nito pinararaan pa uli at sinasala ang tubig sa mga sapin-saping karbong antrasito o buhangin at graba na may iba-ibang laki para maibukod ang mas pinong karumihan.

Sa ngayon ang mga dalubhasa ay maingat na sinusuri ang kalagayan ng tubig upang maging ligtas na inumin ng tao.    Nagbubukod sila ng mga “sample” na sinusuri naman sa laboratory.

Sa mga siyudad o poblacion na tulad natin, ay bumubuo sila ng  “waterworks system” (samahan na siyang mamahala sa tubig) na siyang namamahala sa tubig na dumadaloy mula sa pinang-gagalingan patungo sa mga bahay. Pananagutan at tungkulin ng  samahan na ito  na magkaroon ng malinis at sapat na tubig na maaasahang lagi ng isang bayan.  Wala silang layunin kundi  mabigyan ng 24 oras na daloy ng tubig at pangangalaga sa planta at mga kasangkapan noon.

Ayon sa paliwanag ng Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) “Pag may maaasahang sistema ng tubig, may progreso”. 

Kaya ditto sa bayan ng Upi mapalad tayo dahil mayroon pa tayong mapagkunan ng tubig, ang Romagonrong Falls, at sa kasalukuyan ay may proyekto ang bayan natin na padaluyin hanggang ditto sa Nuro, upang sa gayon may mainum ang mga tao. Kaya katungkulan ng bawat mamayan ang pagpapabuti at pangangalaga ng ating water system na itatayo upang matustusan ang dumaraming mamamayan at ang kanilang pangangailangan sa tubig na inumin.

Bakit? Dahil sadyang  mahalaga ang tubig sa kalinisan ng kapaligiran, sa kalusugan ng mga mamamayan at kaligtasan ng bayan.  Ganoon din sa pagpatay ng sunog.  Paano kung walang dumadaloy o sapat na tubig?  Di lang libo kundi milyon-milyong piso ari-arian ang magiging abo.  Bukod pa ang buhay ng tao.

Paano nagkaroon ng “water district” sa ating bayan?   

(live interview with Mayor Mayor Ramon Piang Sr. -topic the Upi Water Level III)

Mga mamamayang ang may responsibilidad, mapalakad ang kanilang  water district.  Ang tungkulin lang ng   funding agency   ay tustusan (pautang o loan) ng puhunan ang   water district, bigyan ito ng tulong na teknikal tulad ng pagsusuri sa mga kailangang pagbabago, disenyo at pagpapagawa ng niyaring plano at kasanayan sa pagpapatakbo at pamamahala ng water system upang mapabuti ang paglilingkod sa taong-bayan.    Ang water district na ito ay hindi aasa  sa pamahalaang bayan.  Ang bayad lamang ng mga taong gumagamit ng tubig ang inaasahan na maipangbayad sa inutang na ginastos sa watersystem. Dahil taong-bayan ang may-ari ng water district.  Sila ang nakikinabang dito kaya’t dapat  tulong-tulong   sila sa pagbabayad.  At kinaklailangan may malikom na salapi ang siyang ginagasta sa pagpapalakad ng water district, sa pagkukumpuni ng kasiraan, sa pagpapalawak at ano pa mang ikabubuti noon, pambayad-utang sa funding agency at sa marami pang paglilingkod nito para sa mga tao.

US: Religious discrimination contributes to RP conflicts

GMANews.TV - Thursday, September 25

MANILA, Philippines - Ethnic, religious and cultural discrimination against Muslim minorities contributed to persistent conflicts in some provinces in the Philippines, a United States report said.

The US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor made this assessment in its International Religious Freedom Report 2008, dated Sept. 19 but posted on the US Embassy website Wednesday.

The report said that despite religious freedom in the Philippines, Muslims still complain “that the Government has not made sufficient efforts to promote their economic development.”

“Some Muslim religious leaders asserted that Muslims suffered from economic discrimination,” it said, adding that ethnic, religious, and cultural discrimination against members of the Muslim minority by members of the Christian majority exists in the country.

“This, combined with economic disparities, contributed to persistent conflict in certain provinces,” it said.

It said that historically, Muslims have been alienated socially from the Christian majority, and some ethnic and cultural discrimination against Muslims has been recorded.

“Young Muslim professionals reported that some employers stereotype Muslims as being less educated. Some Muslims reported that they had difficulty renting rooms in boarding houses or being hired for retail work if they used their real names or wore distinctive Muslim dress. Therefore, many resorted to adopting Christian pseudonyms and wearing Western clothing,” it said.

However, it said the government promoted interfaith dialogue to build mutual trust and respect among various religious and cultural groups. It also said amicable ties among religious communities are common, and many participate in interdenominational efforts to alleviate poverty.

Also, it noted that last March 12, President Arroyo created the Council on Interfaith Initiatives to strengthen government’s existing institutional arrangements for interfaith activities.

The Council replaced the National Committee on Interfaith Cooperation as the highest policy-making body for the Government’s interfaith initiatives.

Also, the US said the government “generally respected religious freedom in practice,” and there was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom by the government.

It said the US government discusses religious freedom with the Philippine government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights.

“The Embassy actively encouraged the peace process between the Government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front and maintained active outreach with religious leaders and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to engage them in interfaith activities,” it said.

In its report, the US said Islam is the largest minority religion, and Muslims constitute between 5 and 9 percent of the total population.

Groups that together constitute less than 5 percent of the population include Seventh-day Adventists, United Church of Christ, United Methodist, the Episcopal Church in the Philippines, Assemblies of God, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and Philippine (Southern) Baptists. Domestically established denominations include the Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan), the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ), and the Members Church of God International.

Christianity is the majority religion among indigenous peoples.

Between 12 million and 16 million indigenous persons adhere to Catholicism or Protestantism, often incorporating elements of traditional indigenous belief systems.

The 1987 Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contributed to the generally free practice of religion.

According to the US, the Philippine government permits religious instruction in public schools with the written consent of parents, provided there is no cost to government.

Local public schools give church groups the opportunity to teach moral values during school hours. Attendance is not mandatory, and various churches share classroom space.

Approximately 14 percent of the Mindanao student population attended Islamic schools (madrassahs). Government officials estimated the number of Islamic schools at more than 2,000.

Government’s National Ecumenical Consultative Committee (NECCOM) fosters interfaith dialogue among major religious groups, including the Roman Catholic Church, Muslim groups, Iglesia ni Cristo, Aglipayan, and Protestant denominations.

Also, the Philippine government observes Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, All Saints’ Day, Christmas Day, and Eid al-Fitr as national holidays, the US noted.

On the other hand, the US noted the Code of Muslim Personal Laws recognizes Islamic law (Shari’a) as part of national law.

“However, it does not apply in criminal matters, and it applies only to Muslims,” it said.

It added some Muslim community leaders (ulamas) argued that the Government should allow Islamic courts to extend their jurisdiction to criminal law cases, and some supported the MILF’s goal of forming an autonomous region governed in accordance with Islamic law.

“As in other parts of the judicial system, the Shari’a courts suffered from a large number of unfilled positions. All five Shari’a district court judgeships and 37 percent of circuit court judgeships remained vacant. Aside from budget restrictions, judicial positions on the Shari’a courts were particularly difficult to fill because applicants are required to be members of the Shari’a Bar in addition to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines,” it noted.

Still, it noted there were no reports of religious prisoners or detainees in the country.

The US added there were no reports of forced religious conversion, including of minor US citizens who had been abducted or illegally removed from the US, or of the refusal to allow such citizens to be returned to the US.

Also, it said amicable ties among religious communities are common, and many participate in interdenominational efforts to alleviate poverty.

It cited the Interfaith Group, a NGO which includes Catholic, Islamic, and Protestant representatives, continued to support the Mindanao peace process.

The Peacemakers’ Circle Foundation, a loose coalition of various religious and faith-based groups, focuses on building and strengthening interfaith relations in selected communities through dialogue.

Also, there is an active Bishops-Ulamas Conference in Mindanao that brings together Catholic bishops and members of the Ulama League of the Philippines from Mindanao to hold dialogues on addressing local issues of peace, order and inter-cultural solidarity.

“Leadership of human rights groups, trade union confederations, and industry associations typically represents many religious persuasions,” the US said.

For its part, the US said its government discusses religious freedom with the Government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights.

US embassy officers regularly met with representatives of all major religious groups to discuss these problems and concerns, while the US government actively supported the Government’s peace process with Muslim insurgents in Mindanao.

The Embassy also maintained active outreach with NGOs. In July 2007 the Embassy hosted the visit of an American imam who conducted an interfaith summer camp for Muslim, Christian, and Lumad (indigenous people of Mindanao) high school student leaders, as well as interfaith outreach seminars for Christian and Muslim community leaders and clergy.

“For fiscal year 2007, 60 percent of the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) $69 million budget for the country went to programs in Mindanao, mostly in the ARMM. USAID programs were instrumental in supporting the peace process and helped foster an environment for greater religious tolerance. One example of such an effort was a multiyear USAID program that helped 28,000 former MNLF members make the transition from fighting to productive farming,” it said.

The Embassy also sought to help religious leaders broaden their cultural understanding through the Mission’s exchange programs.

During the period covered in this report, the Embassy sent both Muslim and Christian leaders to the United States on International Visitor Program (IVP) grants.

It also used two student exchange programs, the Youth Leadership Program, and the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program, to enable Muslim students to study in the United States and learn about religious tolerance and pluralism from the perspective of American youth.

During the 2007 academic year, the YES Program sponsored 40 secondary students from the ARMM to spend the academic year living with an American family.

In April 2008, through the Youth Leadership Program, 21 Muslim, Christian, and Lumad students attended a 4-week student exchange program with an American university. A Citizens Exchange Program sent six Muslim leaders from the country to the United States for a month to meet with Americans engaged in interfaith dialogue. - GMANews.TV

(source: yahoo mail)