By Janelle Tee
The 11th hour

FULFILLING my responsibilities as both Mutya ng Davao 2010 and a graduating student is not an easy task. But it makes my reign more meaningful because of this challenge to excel in both fields.

The courage to lead and to use my title is a great avenue for me to be an inspiration to others and an instrument for change.

Just last June, myself, as Mutya ng Davao 2010, a national newspaper company, and United State's Agency for International Development's Philippine Environmental Governance Project (Ecogov) signed a statement of cooperation for the conservation of Davao Gulf.

During the first five months of my reign, being a spokesperson for the Conservation of Davao Gulf is a great privilege. Being involved in this worthy cause means a lot to me. It is but disheartening that a biodiversity-rich area is becoming a sink of all wastes generated by all 23 LGUs surrounding the Gulf.

May it be solid, liquid, domestic, industrial or agricultural wastes, these greatly endangers marine biodiversity.

It is the final catchment for all runoffs, erosion and effluents coming from 11 major watersheds, through 33 tributaries. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Davao Gulf has one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Not just that, the Conservation International (CI) has recognized Davao Gulf as one of the world's key biodiversity areas (KBA), one of 128 KBAs in the Philippines.

All these are under pressure threatening marine biodiversity, livelihood, local economy and our climate. Taking pride upon this won't stay any longer if we continue to be sluggish in taking care of Mother Earth.

We may be alive today but what about the next generation? Consider these factors: 60 percent of potable water supply systems are tainted by wastewater, 31 percent of illnesses are caused by poor sanitation and hygiene, one Filipino dies every hour due to diarrhea, annual economic losses of health, tourism, fisheries and other non-quantifiable losses of amounting to P67-billion.

The wrath of Mother Earth is really tough. We just can't sit down and watch all of these things happen. We all need to work as one for Davao Gulf as it is our common resource.

"Ang lahat ng bagay ay magkaugnay," as Joey Ayala put it in his song. Everything is interconnected. Things that happen in uplands, lowlands, coastal areas and wastewater generated by household, industries, plantations and others affect Davao Gulf.

If for example, there are 1.5-M inhabitants and each generates waste at a very conservative amount of .3 kilo per day, about 450 tons of wastes are produced daily. Are these tons of waste all collected or do some of them end up somewhere else?
These wondrous environments that we live in have been supplanted by wastes. Would we even bother to care?

It's already the eleventh hour and tomorrow might be too late. It's already 11:59, in fact. Act now. The call for action on this shared responsibility is today.

I am grateful for the trust and confidence upon me of Mr. Ferdinand Esguerra, EcoGov regional manager for Mindanao, and Ms. Cecilia Rodriguez. I'm very excited on how the year will unfold as the ambassadress of goodwill and the ambassadress for the Conservation of Davao Gulf as well. All of these are for the betterment of Davao City.

What we need is a coordinated and concerted effort for Davao Gulf. We do hope that enthusiasm in Saving Davao Gulf will just shine forth each. Before Father Time takes it all away, let's take care of what Mother Earth gave us.