Deal inked to plot out watershed

ROUGHLY five years after the passage of the Watershed Code of Davao City in 2007, various stakeholders officially forged a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that will pave the way for the ground delineation of the city's watersheds.

The ground delineation will cover eight identified watersheds in Davao City including Sibulan River at Sirawan area, Lipadas River, Talomo River, Tamugan River, Cugan River, Suawan River, Matina River, and Bunawan River.

The delineation will start on November 5 and will run indefinitely depending on the condition on the ground.

Signatories of the MOA are Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio; Mary Ann Fuertes, executive director of Interface Development Interventions (Idis); Edwin Regalado, acting general manager of the Davao City Water District; and Joselin Marcus Fragada, regional chief of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Davao.

Duterte-Carpio said the partnership will mark the start of a significant endeavor that will benefit all Dabawenyos.

"This is very important in the preservation of our watersheds and the city cannot do it alone without the help of the private companies, government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), and non-governmental organization," the mayor said.

Based on the MOA, the city will appropriate half of the needed funds for the project at P800,000, which will be used for the project implementation, provide technical support through the office of the City Planning, and Development Office (CPDO), among others.

The remaining P800,000 will be shouldered by the Davao City Water District.

Fragada lauded the partnership, saying the DENR will always be supportive of all types of endeavors that aim to protect the environment and for its sustainability.

DENR is the lead agency in running the ground delineation and demarcation project. It is also expected to provide technical assistance in the preparation of work plan, as well as in the actual implementation and identification of the boundaries.

"The DENR has been always encouraging Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in addressing problems with the environment," Fragada said.

As the counterpart of Idis, the group shouldered the P300,000 worth 3D model of Talomo-Li]padas and Panigan-Tamugan watersheds that was presently on display at the People’s Park.

This is on top of the P72,708 worth of equipment and gadgets needed in conducting the project that include one unit of laptop computers and 14 sets of Global Positioning System, raincoats, and sleeping bags, among others.