Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte confirmed that a budget has been allotted for a study to delineate the eight major watershed areas in the city.
Edge Davao earlier acquired copy of the study’s project design from the Davao City Watershed Management Council (WMC) which bares a project cost of P800,000.
During a press conference February 27, Mayor Duterte affirmed that a budget had been set for the study.
“The budget can now be used,” Duterte said.
The eight major watersheds are the Bunawan River, Davao River, Lasang River, Lipadas Watershed, Matina River, Sibulan River, Talomo Watershed, and the Tuganay Watershed.
Meanwhile, City Councilor Arnolfo Cabling and City Agriculturist Office (CAO) officer in charge Leonardo Avilla III on different occasions said the study is set to begin this month.
“This study has been long awaited. Finally, with its implementation we can fulfill the Watershed Code,” Avila said in an interview February 28.
Davao City Watershed Protection, Conservation and Management Ordinance author Councilor Cabling said the ordinance, also known as the Watershed Code of 2007, aims to protect the watersheds, which are the city’s upland sources of potable water.
“By definition, watersheds are identified as environmentally critical areas where development of any sort is prohibited to ensure the sustainability of the city’s water supply,” said Cabling last February 21 during a meeting of the Rotary Club of East Davao at The Marco Polo Davao where he was guest speaker.
To conduct the delineation, Avila said the WMC will mark areas by putting up signs identifying them as non-tillage, conservation or primary agricultural lands, as well as identifying the watershed recharge zones.
The WMC’s objective is also to identify the buffer zones of the protected areas, install monuments, and to provide information education communication sessions with stakeholders.
Avila estimated that the project will take three months to finish.
