Support pours in for Davao's Tamugan River as clean water source

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - Davao City residents have urged the local government and environment agencies to preserve the Tamugan River for future source of drinking water.
A manifesto of support for the Tamugan Surface Water Development (TSWD) project of the Davao City Water District (DCWD) was signed by almost a thousand residents of Districts 2 and 3.

Copies of the manifesto were furnished to Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and the city councilors.

“Naghinaot dyud mi ug dako na unta masugdan na sa labing madaling panahon kining proyektoha, kay kami nag-antos dyud sa taas na panahon sa kahinay sa agas sa tubig,” ( “We earnestly look forward to the swift implementation of this project, since we have long been inconvenienced by low pressure water,”) said Ricardo Mariano, a resident of Tibungco.
DCWD General Manager Rodora Gamboa said that her office is now conducting the feasibility study which is the first phase of the surface water project.

“As soon as the feasibility studies is complete, we will find ways to fund the project and exhaust all possible means to have the project done the soonest time possible” she said.

Gamboa said that the entire cost of the project is more than 3 billion pesos. “The result of the Feasibility studies will give us the idea how are we going to fund the project and its mode of implementation,” Gamboa said.

“In the mean time, our immediate and primary concern is the threat brought about by Hedcor’s application for permit to the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to utilize the Tamugan river. If this will be granted then the Surface Water project will be jeopardized.”

DCWD had been opposing the application of energy company Hedcor to use the Tamugan River claiming that it has no other river to tap that has the water quality and sufficient volume to meet the city’s fast increasing demand for water supply.

It further claimed that the Surface water project is the very measure to avert the water crisis that is projected to happen in the coming years.

DCWD spokesperson Imelda Magsuci said that Hedcor’s project would likely adversely affect the environment specifically the groundwater source in Dumoy aquifer which supplies potable water to the majority of the Davaoenos.

Magsuci said that according to Hedcor’s project proposal, it will divert the natural flow of water from the Talomo River towards the rivers of Panigan and Tamugan in order to meet hedcor’s required flow rate to operate its hydropower plant.

“This is hazardous to the environment based on the studies conducted by Asia Geodyne – Aquifer characterization, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – Isotopes study, PCEEM-Mines and Geosciences bureau (MGB) Terrain Analysis which identified the Talomo River as the main recharge zone for the Dumoy aquifer” she said.

“This goes to show that the diversion of the Talomo River will have a serious effect to the groundwater source” she added.

DCWD’s bid to spare the Tamugan River from industrial usage was backed by the Southern and Central Mindanao Water Information Council (SOCEMWIC).

In a manifesto of support, it was stated that “after careful study and deliberation of the Surface Water Development Project of DCWD and the Hydropower project of Hedcor, SOCEMWIC is fully convinced that both projects cannot co-exist in Tamugan River.”

It added that it is aware that Hedcor could tap other rivers for its hydropower project while DCWD has only Tamugan river that is physiologically viable and economically feasible.

Late last year, students of the Davao City National High School (DCNHS) also sent an open letter addressed to Duterte and the City Council, appealing for the prioritization of DCWD’s project over that of Hedcor’s.

The students expressed their fears on the environmental hazards that Hedcor’s hydropower plant may cause to the river.

The manifesto, signed by 300 student government leaders and club leaders of DCNHS, enumerated their fears as follows: “Hydropower may alter the river and river side habitat, a dam or a powerhouse can be a significant obstacle to fish migration, and hydropower project can impede the natural flow of sediments”

In the same manifesto, the students said that “our need and that of the coming generations for drinking water that only the Tamugan river can provide is more important than using the Tamugan river as energy source.”

They added that “the tapping of the Tamugan river for hydropower use also violates the Davao City Watershed Code which has declared Tamugan as a conservation area where any form of commercial activity is banned.” (Edmarson Sola)

Davao City Water District, Davao Medical Society extend conservation pact

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 13, 2009) - The Davao City Water District recently extended its five-year conservation agreement with the Davao Medical Society (DMS), underlining its commitment to work closely with civil society groups in preserving the environment.

In a statement, DCWD General Manager Rodora Gamboa said: “The agreement symbolizes our resolve to continue working in partnership with the public in the proper management and defense of our natural resources.”

The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), signed between Gamboa and DMS President Vegloure Maguinsay called for the joint implementation of an “Adopt-a-Site” project in the Mt. Talomo-Lipadas Watershed Rehabilitation Project Area.

In the agreement, the DMS adopts one hectare by donating P6,000 a year over a period of five years. The MOA, which expires in 2013, is the second one formalized by both parties.

To date, the Mt. Talomo-Lipadas Watershed has about 30 so-called adopters, including Coca-Cola Bottlers, Inc., Holcim Phils., San Miguel Corp., and Davao Fruits Corp. (Edmarson B. Sola)

Engineers inspect water filter facilities in Davao City

An undated photo show engineers from the Davao City Water District in Mindanao inspecting the slow sand filter facilities in Malagos as part of the DCWD’s regular inspection tours. The filters help ensure the quality of water coming from the Malagos River, from which local residents draw for their daily needs. (Mindanao Examiner / Contributed photo by Edmarson Sola)

Spare Davao's Tamugan-Panugan River

A nursery basks under the Malagos sun as part of seed propagation efforts of the Davao City Water District. Since last year, at least 20 kilos of Dao and Mahogany seeds were collected inside the 235-hectare Malagos Watershed Reservation. Over the last several months, the DCWD has propagated over 12,000 seeds in the reservation alone, in line with its mandate to preserve nature and ensure the city's stable water supply. (Edmarson Sola)

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 24, 2009) - Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials of the 2nd and 3rd Congressional Districts gathered here to sign a manifesto declaring the importance of water over electricity.

The officials declared that "We need water over electricity."

In a recent forum sponsored by the Watershed Management Coordinating Council, 81 out of 89 SK officials supported the campaign of the Davao City Water District (DCWD) to spare the Tamugan River from any commercial use that could compromise the future's reliable water supply for the city.

DCWD said it has launched a Tamugan Surface Water Development (TSWD) Project precisely for this purpose.

DCWD spokesperson Imelda Magsuci said that the TSWD Project is a "proactive measure in response to the city's looming water crisis."

The National Water Resources Board (NWRB ) identified Davao City as one of the "nine water-critical areas in the Philippines where water is consumed intensively."

Magsuci stressed that the Tamugan - Panigan river is the city's last resource of potable water that has the quality and the quantity that could supply the city's future demands.

In a study conducted by independent experts such as Cest Incorported showed only the Tamugan -Panigan river met the primary factors such as large flow rates and high quality.

The experts' findings further revealed the following: Lipadas River has superior quality but has a relatively small flow rate; Talomo River has a high risk on contamination and has a small quantity due to a hydropower plant; Davao River is highly turbid and has very high operational costs.

The SK officials' manifesto was issued following Magsuci's explanation about DCWD's objections to co-exist with a private corporation's power plant project along the Tamugan-Panigan River.

Aboitiz-owned Hedcor, Inc. has signified its intention to establish such a facility, and has been moving rapidly to lay its social and physical infrastructure in the contested area.

Magsuci explained that the river cannot afford to simultaneously meet the technical requirements of both utilities. "Aside from the technicalities we cannot compromise the environmental threats that would be caused by HEDCOR's proposed power plant," she added.

Magsuci also pointed out that according to the plan showed by Hedcor, it has to divert the natural terrain of the river in order to augment the flow rate of water needed to operate the hydro power plant. "The operations of Hedcor will affect the availability of water for DCWD," she added.

She said that based on other scientific and independent observations, Hedcor's plan to divert the natural terrain of the Tamugan-Panigan river "will dry up the Talomo River which is a recharge area for Dumoy – this is a source of ground water."

Unlike Hedcor which has the choice of relocating its hydro power plant to some other areas in Mindanao, Magsuci explained to the SK officials that DCWD is limited only within the territory of Davao City. (Edmarson Sola)

Davao Consumer Groups Assail Water Cooperative

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 28, 2008) – Consumer groups and civil society organizations have assailed the Davao City Water District (DCWD) for allegedly terminating employees without due process.

The Consumer Alert! (CA) and the Nagakahiusang Mamumuo sa Davao City (NAMADACWAD) have thrown its supports to the former employees and condemned their termination.
"We sympathize for the workers and their families who are now in a desolate situation. We believe that the management's move to terminate and suspend the employees annihilates these people's aspirations and their only means for survival," Leon Bolcan, CA spokesman, said in a statement sent to the Mindanao Examiner.

"What is more condemning is the fact that these employees were terminated and suspended without due process. They were denied of the chance to defend their innocence and the management is seemed unmoved with their arrogance and irrational stands," Bolcan added.

The two groups have previously opposed a plan by the utility cooperative to loan some P126 million from credit firms, saying, it would further put the DCWD in debts. It said DCWD should first put in top priority the welfare and benefits of employees.

“Apart from the loan, the workers of DCWD have other issues that need to be addressed by the management. It is proper and legitimate that the workers demand for the benefits that are due to them. To deny them of this right, or worse, to order for their termination and suspension on the basis of their oppositions is unjust and absurd," Bolcan said.

The loan, DCWD said, would be used to repair pipelines and other projects.
Bolcan said his group would appear to a plenary session of the Davao City Council to express support to DCWD employees and renew their opposition to the proposed loan.

"We support the workers in the fight to protect DCWD and the water consumers of Davao City. We can not allow the management to continue on violating basic human rights and endangering the future of the city," Bolcan said.

Water Utility Loan Opposed In Southern RP

DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 20 Jun) – A proposal by the local water utility for a P100 million loan to finance a pipeline project has allegedly drew strong criticisms from the public, an independent consumer group said on Wednesday.

The Davao City Water District (DCWD) has proposed to borrow money from the Local Water Utilities Administration to fund a pipeline replacement project. But the Consumers Alert!, a broad alliance against commercialization and privatization of basic social services, said the loan will be an added burden for water consumers and could also open the way for the privatization of the DCWD.

“Consumers coming from the various sectors in the city together with the union of the local water district today pledge allegiance to campaign against threats of water privatization looming with the Davao City Water District's proposal to loan P 100 million.”

“The DCWD's proposal of loaning P100M from the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) is part of the scheme to lay the requirements for private take-over of public water service system which the DCWD is considering to undertake,” Rudy Aranjuez, co-convener of Consumers Alert and chairperson of the Nagkahiusang Mamumuo sa DCWD, said.

The DCWD said the loan will be used to finance the Comprehensive Mainline Replacement Program (CMRP).

The CMRP includes the development of the pipelines in the Dumoy Water System such as those in Magsaysay Avenue, Maa Road, C.M. Recto Street, Mamay Road, R. Castillo and Lapu-lapu Streets, Sasa, San Pedro Streets, and Quirino Streets.

“But this will pave way for the added burden among the consumers who will bear the payment of the interest through water rate hikes," Aranjuez said.

Frankie del Rosario, also a convener of the alliance, said that "broad and active participation of the people against threats of commercialization and privatization of basic social services implemented by the government and big capitalists should be felt".

“People should register its opposition against regressive and anti-people policies and the only way is to forge our unity,” Del Rosario said. (Mindanao Examiner)