Civil society organizations (CSOs) in the Davao region have called for the enforcement of total log ban and the stoppage of plantation expansions in a bid to protect and preserve the environment from further destruction.
The call came at a recent interfacing activity with various private and public stakeholders which the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) spearheaded to discuss issues and concerns about the environment.
The group cited the concern on siltation from the mountains to rivers and shorelines like the Davao River which was caused by deforestation, kaingin system and monocrop plantation expansion. This prompted the call for a total banning of logging activities and expansion of plantations.
Dominador Lopez, president of the Watershed Management Coordinating Council (WMCC) which was among the participants in the interfacing activity, said the group also tackled the concern on pollution brought about by industrial, agricultural and domestic activities.
Lopez noted the increasing number of factories along shorelines, piggeries along riverbanks, fish cages, and coastal dwellers that have caused pollution.
He said the group recommended for the regular monitoring of water, air and sediments in coordination with concerned agencies, saying that the results will be presented to the public through leading local newspapers. [PIA 11/Carina L. Cayon]
The stakeholders proposed for a moratorium on coastal development as evident in reclamation and massive establishment of resorts/hotels, oil depot and private seaports along shorelines, according to Lopez.
Another issue presented was the banning by private establishments of entry into public shorelines and public beaches, urging for the issuance of a directive to remove such bans.
Seeing the influx of coastal area dwellers as another threat to the environment, the CSOs recommended for the conduct of data gathering on the actual coastal dwellers in coordination with the local government units, and for the provision of relocation for coastal dwellers.
Lopez said the group also took note of the vanishing mangrove forest, citing particularly the areas in Matina Aplaya, Bucana, Lizada and Lasang in Davao City. He said stakeholders suggest the creation of Bantay Kalikasan groups to be “employed by the city government on contractual basis to sustain environmental activities.”
Other suggestions raised were the need to conduct public consultations/participation in decision making prior to issuance of permits, and a moratorium on the renewal and approval of foreshore lease applications and fishpond lease applications.
Lopez presented these issues and recommendations to a multi-sectoral planning workshop on water partnership this March.
