Water Resources

andBiodiversity

WATER

Do you know that Philippine boasts have different kinds of natural water forms?

There’s a lot of water forms here in the Philippines such as bays, rivers, lakes, fall, streams and swamps. Because the country’s coastline is made up of islands. And these coastlines supports the survival of diverse organisms for food and for other economic activities.

Do you know where typhoons in our country comes from?

The Pacific Ocean and South China Sea are both bodies of water that surrounds the Philippines are the origin of the typhoons in our country which on the average of about 20 a year, according to PAGASA. These typhoons and monsoons (Habagat & Amihan) brings a lot of rain in the Philippines.

What is your association with too much rainfall?

For some, rain and typhoons result in flooding, landslides and health related problems. But water is nature’s gift to us. People need fresh water from many purposes. We use water for domestic purposes, for irrigation and for industries. We need water to generate electricity. We use water for recreation or its aesthetic value. Many resorts are located near springs, waterfalls or lakes.

Where does natural water forms originate?

From a WATERSHED an area of land on a slope which drain its water into a stream and its tributaries. This is the reason why a watershed is sometimes called a catchment area or drainage basin. It includes the surface of the land and the underground rock formation drained by the stream.

What is a watershed?

Watershed resemble a network similar to the branching pattern of a tree. Tributaries, similar to the small branches that flow in the streams, the main branch of a tree. Streams eventually empty into a large river comparable to the trunk. Watersheds come in all shapes and sizes. They come in cross towns and provinces.

Do you know that there’s a lot of watersheds in the Philippines?

Basically because we have an abundant rainfall here. Mt. Apo in Davao, Mt. Makiling in Banahaw, and Tiwi in Albay are watersheds. And you must be heard about La Mesa Dam in Metro Manila, Angat Dam in Bulacan and Pantabangan Dam in Pampanga. These watersheds are sources of water of many communities in the area. And also Maria Chrisrina Falls in Iligan City is also a watershed that is used to generate electricity.

What is the main function of a watershed?

Production of a continuous water supply that would maintain the life forms within it and in the area fed by its stream.

That’s why we need to keep our watershed healthy.

THANK YOUFOR READING!