WWF-Philippines hosts “WaterLogues”, a 2-day water forum in Cebu

CEBU CITY –The World Wide Fund (WWF)-Philippines’ Daloy Project hosted a two-day forum dubbed as “WaterLogues: Beyond the Drop, Actions for Sustainable Water” on August 28-29 in Cebu City that serve as a venue for dialogue and collaboration to secure a sustainable water future for Cebu.

 

“WaterLogues will highlight Cebu's local realities while drawing from global expertise. From the lived experiences of communities to international models of water-sensitive planning, the discussions will bridge scales— making clear that water is both a local lifeline and a global issue,” Catherine Custodio, Executive Director of WWF Philippines said in a media interview at the event.

Custodio emphasized the importance of collaboration among various stakeholders to address sustainable water issues in Cebu and the Philippines, adding that the primary goal is to move from commitments to actions, involving all levels from individuals to national policies.

“WaterLogues..” gathered a multi-sectoral group of nearly 100 participants composed of academe, business, local government, NGOs and other water stakeholders with featured speakers from Korea, Vietnam, Nepal, and the Middle East, highlighting best practices and the need for integrated governance, educational systems, and business practices to manage water resources effectively, said Chrisma Salao, Director for Programs, WWF-Philippines.

“The forum aims to foster implementation and enforcement of existing policies and plans, rather than just holding conferences,” Custodio added that Cebu has long been recognized as an economic hub in the Visayas, yet its development is constrained by serious water challenges.

Groundwater depletion, saltwater intrusion, watershed degradation, and uneven access to safe water supply continue to threaten livelihoods, ecosystems, and industries. With rapid urbanization and climate change amplifying risks, the call for urgent, collective action has never been stronger, she added.

According to Custodio, the water dialog/forum hopes to identify and document good water management practices across the Philippines that can be scaled up and replicated; develop a plan for follow-up activities and monitoring the implementation of commitments made during the forum.

It also wants to engage the media to help amplify the water issues and the actions individuals and organizations can take and encourage personal and household-level water conservation practices among the participants, she added.

Salao said that there is an urgency of action for water security, suggesting individual efforts to conserve water and advocating for government and corporate policies that promote sustainable water use while Custodio points out the collective impact of individual actions on society, underscoring the responsibility of each person to contribute to water security.

WWF-Philippines agree on the importance of collective action and advocacy to create momentum for water security initiatives. “WaterLogues: Beyond the Drop, Actions for Sustainable Water” is a pre-side event of World Water Week 2025, an annual event organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), linking Cebu's water realities with the global agenda on water, climate, and development.

The water dialog is supported by the Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, in partnership with Kaabag sa Sugbo, the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP) College of Fellows and Cebu Chapter, the Municipality of Argao, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI). (Photos: MBCNewman)