MIWD, MPIW, and MIB Hold 2026 World Water Day Art Contest Highlighting Gender and Water

In celebration of the 2026 United Nations World Water Day, the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD), together with its joint venture companies Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW) and Metro Iloilo Bulk Water Supply Corporation (MIB), successfully conducted a poster-making and art contest for students within the MIWD-MPIW service area. The activity venue was at the 4th Floor MIWD Activity Area at the MIWD Building, and this year’s event gathered young student-artists from public elementary schools, public high schools, and state colleges and universities within the service area of the MPIW-MIWD.

Whereas previous On-The-Spot Poster Making Contest by the MIB/MPIW/MIWD have only invited High School students to participate, this 2026 year marks the first time that Elementary students are also invited to participate: with this year having two categories of contestants: Category 1: to Elementary Grades 4 to 6 students, and Category 2: Junior and Senior High School students, particularly from central schools, public high schools, and state colleges and universities within the service area of MPIW/MIWD.

This year’s 2026 World Water Day theme is “Gender and Water: “Where Water Flows, Equality Grows”—highlights the necessity of gender equality with regards to water’s use in our daily lives—via drinking water, sanitation or other uses, and how traditionally the womenfolk are more vulnerable to water access, acquisition and distribution. This year’s theme is also coincidentally congruent with the whole month of March’s National Women’s Month.

The program formally opened with inspiring remarks from MIWD General Manager Alfredo L. Tayo III, CESE, who emphasized the importance of the future of water stewardship. Student participants were then given three hours to complete their artworks, allowing them ample time to express their understanding of the theme through visual storytelling.

Three veteran visual artists graced the occasion, namely Ms. Kim de Felipe, Mr. Rain Valenzuela—both who work as visual artists in the graphics arts and multimedia and commercial field , and are joined by Chief Judge Mr. Boy Masculino.

The event budget and prizes were equally shared by MIWD, MPIW, and MIB, and the prizes for the winners were PHP 8,000 for first place, PHP 5,000 for second place, and PHP 3,000 for third place—for each category. Each student participant also had a participation prize of PHP 1,000.

The event concluded with the announcement of winners and closing remarks from MPIW/MIB COO Mr. David C. Berba, who commended the students for their creativity and their thoughtful interpretation of the importance of water and gender equality.

The winners for the contest are as follows:

Category 1, from 1st place to 3rd place: West Visayas State University (Otriz, Shay Anika S.), Cabatuan Central Elementary School (Nandin, Rexel, V), Iloilo Central Elementary School (Sibuan, Lianne Jamie, M.).

For Category 2, High school, from 1st place to 3rd place: Santa Barbara National Comprehensive High School (Sibuan, Lianne Jamie, M.), Cabatuan national comprehensive high school (Gamuzaran, Floyd Clarence C.), Oton National Highschool (Otero, Princess Belle, Monton).