Various groups from Davao City’s government and private sectors have banded together to protect the city’s biodiversity, believing that it will ultimately influence the economic development of the city.
The group, consisting of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Health (DOH), Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc,. EcoGov and the Davao Tourism Alliance among others, are set to hold the First Davao Biodiversity Summit on November 25.
“We have decided to pool our resources so we can come up with a concrete plan of action that will encourage close collaboration leading to a concerted effort in conserving the Davao region’s diversity,” DENR 11 regional technical director Emmanuel Isip said.
DOH 11 director Dr. Teogenes Baluma said the health sector is directly benefitted by efforts to conserve the environment and its biodiversity.
“Lack of proper solid waste and waste water management can contaminate both surface and underground sources of drinking water resulting in various diseases,” he said.
Baluma said unmanaged waste causes disease-carrying insects to thrive and can thus endanger public health.
Susan Palad of the Davao Tourism Alliance said the tourism industry also benefits from a well-preserved environment.
“Local tourism often flourishes in areas where biodiversity is rich, such as clean beaches that make possible excellent diving sites and forests with good cover that are ideal for trekking,” she said, adding: “Local tourism generates income and provides livelihood for locals. This is exactly what is happening to the Davao Gulf which sustains the P6.5 billion eco-tourism industry in the region.”
“Environment conservation will ensure a good resource base for sustainable economic development,” Isip said. “Davao Gulf, with an estimated 308,000 hectare area, ranks high in the country’s aquaculture production. It generates P669 million in aquaculture earnings and provides employment for about 19,000 commercial and municipal fishermen.
