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Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Mayor admits helplessness on city's sewage woes
By Ben O. Tesiorna
WITH the controversy over the unsafe beach resorts in Davao City due to high concentration of coliform bacteria in many areas of the Davao Gulf, the city may have to seriously consider the construction of a water treatment facility.
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, however, said he does not believe that the city could afford such facility, at least not during his term.
The wastewater treatment facility is to prevent the sewage of the city from being dumped into the open sea.
The city's waste coming from canals are said to be the main cause of the high concentration of coliform bacteria in the gulf.
Duterte said it would take more than six years, which is already beyond his political term, before the city could construct a water treatment facility due to its high cost.
The mayor said the city would need at least P2 billion for such a facility. He said the city could not afford that amount as of now.
"But if only Davao will enjoy twice as good (as we are enjoying now), within six years we can build the facility. But then that would be beyond my term. That is why you (Dabawenyos) should look for someone good to replace me," Duterte said.
Two Sundays ago, Duterte made public the names of nine beach resorts with high concentration of coliform bacteria in their water.
Five of the nine beaches were found to be unsafe or on the verge of being unsafe for bathing in a test conducted back in 1992. The information is contained in the World Bank Environmental Assessment Report on Davao City in relation to a proposed Sewerage and Sanitation Project and Water District Development Project dated March 1997.
The report has already underlined the alarming state of beach waters in the city because of the absence of a proper sewerage system.
Duterte has already ordered the City Health Office and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office to come up with an action plan to address this concern.
He said the action plan would be drafted by concerned government agencies and would outline several measures to ensure the safety of beach resorts in the city.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (April 18, 2006 issue)
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