Church joins fray over Davao water

Water is big business as proven by the still unresolved conflict between the Davao City Water District and Hedcor Corporation arising from the legal question of who has the right to explore and use the waters of the Tamugan River. This has, however, ceased from becoming just a mere legal question as religious groups have joined the fray.
Just recently, a group of nuns called for the cessation of Hedcor’s plans to use the Tamugan River for its hydropower project, not only because it violates the people’s right to clean and potable water, but also because it is a violation of the Watershed Code of the city.
“We call on the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) to cancel the Environmental Compliance Certificate awarded to Hedcor as this is directly contradictory to the Watershed Code,” said Sr. Gladys A. Laurente, OSB, chairperson of the Association of the Consecrated Women of Davao or ACWA.
Councilor Leonardo Avila said ACWA consists of about 38 congregations of Davao sisters and nuns who are concerned about what will happen to the state of Davao City’s waters once the Tamugan River is exploited by Hedcor.
“Hedcor’s hydropower project in the Tamugan-Panigan-Suawan Watershed poses an overwhelming threat to the environment and its biodiversity as well as to the people’s right to access the gifts and beauty of creation,” Laurente said.
Laurente said it is the people’s “moral and common obligation to defend and protect the integrity of our watersheds and the people who will be directly affected by this project.” She said water should not be treated as just another commodity among many because without water, life is threatened.
ACWA has asked the city council to uphold the Watershed Code in line with the councilors’ mandate as servants of the people with the duty of upholding the sovereign will of the people over corporate interests.
Laurente said the hydropower project in Tamugan is not only a violation of the Watershed Code because aside from threatening the right of the people to a sustainable water supply, “it is also destructive to the watershed, aquifers, rivers, farms, forests as well as people’s livelihood and well-being.”
After tumultuous months in the City Council following the tug-of-war between DCWD and Hedcor, with the councillors divided over their stand on the use of the watershed area, trouble is again expected to brew as Hedcor president and CEO Rene Ronquillo has already sought endorsement from the City Council for their proposed hydropower projects.
While the City Council has kept mum on the issue, others have been vocal about their disagreement re the use of the watershed area for Hedcor’s hydropower project. Among those who have signified their preference for the use of Tamugan as source of drinking water are councilors Avila and Rachel Zozobrado.
Zozobrado said, “We should put a premium on, and prioritize, the safety of our water sources if we do not want to end up like the US, Australia, Africa and other countries faced with water shortage, she said. It is not only the US that is experiencing water shortage problems because even Australia is in the middle of a 30-year dry spell.
“There should be no question about amending our Watershed Code just to favor some companies because it was legislated to protect the city’s water source and changing or amending the Code will be foolhardy,’ Zozobrado said.
Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad, who used to favor Hedcor’s Tamugan hydropower for the sake of development, has turned around 180 degrees and slammed both DCWD and Hedcor for exploiting the Tamugan River. Trinidad said these are evil forces that should be stopped if Dabawenyos want to protect their watershed area.
While Hedcor is willing to enter into a compromise with DCWD by way of sharing  the Tamugan River, DCWD has remained steadfast about the danger of using the River as hydropower source.
The Hedcor-DCWD conflict is only one of the many controversies involving water in Davao City. Among these water-based issues include the use of pesticides by banana plantations which is said to be already polluting Davao’s waters. There is also the controversial use of water by big soda companies and the proliferation of carwash businesses in the city.
Water is a multi-million business which involves not only DCWD and Hedcor. A lot of businesses are also relying on the city’s waters for profit. The City Council’s ultimate decision on the use of the Tamugan River by Hedcor will thus be a landmark legislation when that happens.  [Lovely A. Carillo]