The Watershed Management Council (WMC) recently issued Resolution No. 3 prohibiting trekking activities in watershed areas and Resolution no. 4 which adopted the proposed guidelines for recreational activities in watershed areas of Davao City.
These resolutions were issued in response to the call of the Bantay Bukid volunteers to regulate trekking activities and other recreational activities in Mt. Tipolog and Panigan-Tamugan Watershed. The said activities resulted in accumulation of large volumes of solid waste that are left behind by the campers.
Roy Allen Cordero, a Bantay Bukid Volunteer, said that the authorities should prohibit recreational climbing or trekking activities in Mt. Tipolog. “….. kay kung mag sige og mosaka modaghan ang basura, matugaw ang mga langgam o mga mananap nga nagpuyo sa bukid ug para pud ma regulate ug ma monitor ang mosaka kay wala ta kabalo kinsa na sila labi na mga walay permit. Kung modaghan ang musaka diha mahugawan na ang atong tubig. Labi na nga ang Mt. Tipolog under sa Watershed,” he said.
The Mt. Tipolog which is located at Brgy. Tawan-Tawan, Baguio District lies within the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed.
Under the WMC Resolution no. 4, the following regulations must be observed:
Organizers of any outdoor adventure/recreational activity within the watershed areas of Davao City must secure a certification from the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) on the need of a Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) as required by NCIP Administrative Order No. 3, series of 2012. In addition, the barangay officials should have been informed of the activity at least seven (7) days prior to its intended date. No FPIC certification, no trekking allowed;
Established and identified trails should be strictly followed. Visitors are not allowed to create their own trails. No one should enter any grass fields or trample on the flowers; Leave No Trace Principle (LNTP) must be practiced;
Removing any kinds of plants or flowers or boundary marks/signages or any product derived therefrom is prohibited;
Collecting, hunting, and possessing wildlife; their by-products and derivatives is nor allowed;
Cooking in any part of the area is not allowed except on established and identified camp area;
Visitors must have a list of all items to be brought in the area which will be submitted to the concerned barangay. All items in the list must be the same items brought back upon exit, to be inspected by a local guide/porter;
Solid wastes should be brought out of the area, including biodegradable wastes like vegetable or fruit peelings;
Avoid polluting the streams in the areas;
Items such as alcoholic beverages, permanent markers, paints, spray paints, and the like are not allowed. These items may be confiscated temporarily and returned to the owner after the recreational activity. In case of discovery of illegal drugs and other illegal substances in the possession of the visitor, the barangay may directly report the incident to the nearest police station for proper disposition;
Smoking in the area is strictly prohibited;
Visitors must have the proper clothing and footwear for the purpose;
Visitors are encouraged to always take important medicine and first aid kit with them;
Creating unnecessary noise is prohibited; bringing of any sound system that causes disturbance in the area is not allowed;
There must be an hour interval for release of the next batch, wherein a maximum of 10 participants are allowed with at least 2 local guides/porters.
Wilderness first aid/Basic life support/Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training must be provided to all local guides/porters in each barangay;
Overnight stay may be allowed but visitors must leave the premises after 24 hours;
There must be regulated fee between private/public lands (entrance/exit); and
Acts committed in violation of the Watershed Code (Ordinance No. 0310-07, series of 2007), Anti-Smoking Ordinance of Davao City (Ordinance No. 0367-12, series of 2012), The Liquor Ban Ordinance (Ordinance No. 004-13, series of 2013), The Sobriety Ordinance of Davao City (Ordinance No. 0410-18, series of 2018), and all other pertinent laws such as Wildlife Act (RA 9417) and Revised Forestry Laws (PD 705), ordinance, rules and regulations while within these premises shall be dealt with accordingly.
“Davao City watersheds should be protected from any activities that would threaten its integrity. Particularly, protective measures should be intensified in Panigan-Tamugan watershed considering that it is within the conservation area as declared by the Watershed Code. More so, Panigan-Tamugan will be the future source of drinking water for Davao City. Hence, strict enforcement of our policies should be observed,” Atty. Mark Peñalver, IDIS Executive Director, stressed.
WMC Guidelines Endorsed to the City Council
The WMC endorsed the guidelines to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources under Councilor Diosdado Angelo A. Mahipus, Jr. for appropriate action of the City Council. A committee hearing was conducted last week to tackle the said issue.
The WMC also mandated the barangays through the Barangay Watershed Management Council to strictly regulate recreational activities in watershed areas within their territorial jurisdiction. (PR-IDIS)
