Environmentalist group Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) raised the alarm on the growing number of resorts operating upstream of the Panigan-Tamugan watershed which is feared to have caused the irregular water flow and compromised the quality of the Panigan-Tamugan River.
Judy Ann Enriquez-Legaspi, the watershed network coordinator of IDIS, said on Monday that these mountain resorts are allegedly diverting water to their swimming pools.
“Ang isa pud sa rason nga naghinay hinay ug hubas ang tubig kay daghan nata mga resorts ug ang tanan na tributaries paingon sa Davao River paingon na sa ilang swimming pools syempre pa menosan ang tubig nga paadto sa Davao River,” Legaspi told Edge Davao.
The Panigan-Tamugan watershed in Baguio District spans 13,975.47 hectares of mostly agricultural, marsh, brush, and forest regions. It comprises the Panigan River’s upper catchment basin and the bigger Tamugan River, which Panigan and another river called Kidale flow into.
Last month, photos of the Panigan-Tamugan River with its water depleting circulated online and caused panic among some Dabawenyos.
Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc. (Apo Agua), which is tapping the Panigan-Tamugan River for its Davao City Bulk Water Project, explained in a statement that no anomalies in water flow.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also predicted that reduced water flow could be due to El Niño last month.
Enriquez-Legaspi said almost 20 mountain resorts are operating near the watershed.
She said that the influx of people visiting the resorts will result in the spread of trash and waste in the watershed and the weir.
Legaspi emphasized the need for an ordinance to protect the Panigan-Tamugan watershed to limit the resort’s operations.
“Dapat naay policy para sa protection sa Panigan-Tamugan watershed. Kaning mga resorts ba naay mga permits? Daghan pud ang influx sa mga tao sa mga resorts ang resulta daghan basura, libo muadto sa isa ka resort, ang hugaw niana syempre muadto sa weir,” she added.
IDIS is working together with Councilor Tek Ocampo, chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, in the crafting of the ordinance to safeguard the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed.
“Naa tay bag-ong gina craft karon naa pa sa office ni Councilor Tek Ocampo, an ordinance protecting the Panigan-Tamugan-ug isa sa mga provisions niana is to limit the activities in the watershed,” Legaspi said.
In 2021, the Watershed Management Council (WMC) recommended the closure of a resort located within the city’s watershed area.
The WMC’s recommendation was based on the report of the representatives of nine government agencies after finding out that a pool is located within the conservation zone and solid wastes such as shampoo and soap wrappers, food wrappers, and many more near the riverbank.
Near the constructed pool is a reservoir with an estimated capacity of 10,000 liters that provides water to the sitios in Brgy. Tambobong for domestic use.
