by Lorie Ann A. Cascaro
A major threat awaits Davao Gulf, a total area of 308,000 hectares surrounded by four provinces in the Davao region. It is home of from five to seven species of marine turtles, coral reefs and various marine lives, and is a known feeding ground of dugong (sea cow) and butanding (whale shark).
The major threat is waste. All wastes, solid and liquid, domestic, agricultural or industrial from 18 municipalities and five cities, end up there, endangering Davao’s marine biodiversity.
And yet, the question is no longer as to who generates most wastes, or should everyone be concerned about it.
The urge to conserve the Davao Gulf is most Dabawenyos’ wish, both private and public sectors, as nobody can wash his or her hands off the gulf’s deterioration.
What fascinates some officials of the city government is the participation of the business sector in this advocacy. Leo Avila III, chair of the Davao Gulf Management Council, said “They are now taking a major role and full responsibility, unlike before when NGOs criticized them as major sources of industrial wastes.”
In fact, the Federation of Davao Region Chambers recently launched “Bring Back Davao Biodiversity” advocacy campaign, saying “We owe our productive economy to Davao’s rich biodiversity. It’s time to give back.”
Speaking in behalf of the federation during the event, Leo Sibala, president of the Davao Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, “Davao Gulf and all of Davao’s resources are part of an abundant biodiversity that has provided us with natural assets propelling our transport, tourism, food, and energy industries. We cannot afford to lose this critical resource.”
While all 23 local government units (LGUs) involved have done environmental activities such as coastal cleanups and solid waste management, the federation aims to complement their current efforts along with that of the national government agencies and other sectors.
All individual activities to conserve Davao Gulf need to be concerted. This was the concern of the USAID’s Philippine Environmental Governance (EcoGov) who provided technical assistance, together with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Interior and Local Government.
Involving the youth
Age may be a factor in terms of who have the most participants in coastal cleanups, tree planting, mangrove rehabilitation and other environmental activities. The campaign welcomes all comers, no wonder even senior citizens are now involved.
As to Janel Tee, Mutya ng Dabaw 2010, and the spokesperson of the EcoGov in its campaigns, the youths are the most active participants in such activities. She continues to encourage them to be responsible in protecting the environment.
Distributing coin banks
While they are encouraged to participate in this advocacy, ordinary people can also support the coin bank campaign.
For fund raising, 500 used transparent mineral water bottles, as big as four to six liters, were distributed to several establishments in the region. Collection of the coin banks “will be used for advocacy activities, implementation of conservation projects and for organizing environmental awards or citations.”
Re-using plastic bottles, instead of tin cans, is a symbol of transparency in various conservation activities, according to Oliver Agoncillo, natural resources policy advisor, USAID Philippines. He added that this is a “clever and innovative strategy to generate public awareness.”
Donating salary
Newly-elected City Councilor Marissa Salvador Abella, the first Mutya ng Dabaw to become a public official—she was a barangay captain when she won last May 10’s election- donated her first salary to the Davao Gulf conservation campaign.
Known to be serious about solid waste management in her barangay, Abella said she wants to expand it in Davao City that’s why she ran for public office. Chair of the environment committee in the 16th city council, she said solid waste management is one of her primary concerns.
Sibala and the Golden Dragon International Terminals, Inc. also pledged P10,000 each during the launch last August 21 at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, Davao City.
Initiating more actions
Conservation of Davao Gulf is not limited to coastal areas. The Davao River, passage of all the wastes coming from uplands, should also be of great concern.
This was pointed out by Cristy Gallano, president of the Rotary Club of Downtown Davao and managing consultant of the Davao River Initiatives, at the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM Davao last Monday.
According to Gallano, saving Davao Gulf requires a wholistic approach such that the river systems must be included in the programs. “There is always a chance to regenerate our urban situation. There are technologies to address that. It’s just a matter of funds,” she added.
Gallano will also pursue development of marine eco parks at Matina Aplaya and Bucana.
For her part, Abella plans to propose an ordinance on delineating river banks by planting trees to control the contamination of wastes on the water.
Intensifying threat
With the increasing business activity in the gulf, oil spills are a big possibility. Such disasters which have happened in other areas of the country show the need for caution.
Through a series of workshops, the LGUs and NGOs, together with other government bodies, formulated oil spill contingency plans to prepare the communities.
“We will disseminate this to the LGUs for them to come up with their own. The coastal communities must be ready with an oil spill contingency plan,” Avila said.
“Business sectors will be fully involved here like depots and beach resorts,” he added.
They are only waiting for the memorandum of agreement with the LGUs which will identify roles and responsibilities.
The Davao Gulf is more than just a diving site for those who want to see its marine biodiversity. It is a source of life not only for the fishing villages but for the Davao economy in general.
Many people say they cannot afford watching its beauty and abundance diminish through time. But then again, what matters most is for them to “walk the talk.”
