In celebration of World Water Day 2016, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD), together with Unesco Clubs in Cebu, launched the “Reuse your jeans” campaign to promote awareness on the need to conserve water.
A popular international jeans company reported that one can save about 10 liters of water if a pair of jeans is washed only once every week.
The campaign is aimed at cutting back on water use, which is deemed necessary as the global climate change is affecting water sources, including the ones in Metro Cebu.
With the theme “Water and Jobs,” the celebration highlighted MCWD employees reusing their jeans last March 22 as they led the rest of Metro Cebu in this worthwhile advocacy.
MCWD is urging other companies whose employees wear jeans to participate in this campaign.
MCWD has also established a strong alliance with Unesco Clubs in different schools to take part in the advocacy as they are very active in environmental protection programs.
The group comprises students from the Cebu Institute of Technology-University, University of San Jose-Recoletos, Cebu Normal University and the University of San Carlos.
The theme for the global celebration emphasizes that all kinds of work are related to or are dependent on water.
But recognizing the need to bring the message closer to millennials, MCWD came up with a special campaign for Metro Cebu since there is a more pressing need to conserve water at this time of the year.
MCWD estimates that a maximum of 34,000 cubic meters of water from surface water sources could be lost due to climate change or the El Niño phenomenon.
Despite MCWD’s efforts to buy additional water or develop new sources, it sees the need to involve all its consumers to take part in water conservation programs to also address the deeper issue of protecting groundwater sources, which remain the bulk source of water supply for Metro Cebu consumers at over 174,000 cu.m. per day.
The water district is encouraging owners of the 169,000 service connections—both households and businesses—to conserve at least 10 liters of water per day to help save over 8,600 cu.m. per day.
To promote the campaign, “Reuse your jeans” will be launched on Facebook with the hashtags #ReuseYourJeans #WearPaMore #ConserveWater #Save10Liters by MCWD employees and members of the Unesco Clubs.
Facebook users may post photos of themselves wearing their “reused” jeans as they take part in a meaningful activity—which when turned into a lifestyle—could make a big difference on water security for future generations.
The target is to reach the working class and students who comprise the largest chunk of the population.
According to the latest population census, of the 100 million Filipinos, more than 63 million are aged 15 to 64 where the student population and the working class belong.
A pair of jeans is a wardrobe staple among workers and students so the campaign is perfect for them.