|
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
Council wants watershed declared critical
By Aurea A. Gerundio
DAVAO CITY -- The City Council finally gave its approval to a proposal to ask the national government to declare the Talomo-Lipadas watershed area as an environmentally critical area.
This was among five resolutions approved Tuesday regarding the Talomo-Lipadas watershed issue that came after three hours of deliberation.
The council also approved the requests for the national leadership, including congress, to suspend the declaration of the remaining area in the Talomo-Lipadas watershed as alienable and disposable.
The Office of the City Mayor was requested to conduct further evaluation on how to protect the environment in the face for the growing agricultural and open existing activities in the watershed area.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is urged to see to it that all environmental laws, including the issuance of an environmental compliance certificate (ECC), are religiously observed to address the concerns and complaints of residents within the areas affected.
The Council also requested the approval of a resolution including the request for the inclusion, identification and delineation of the high, moderate and low potential water recharge areas within the Talomo-Lipadas watershed as regulated zones in the review of the zoning ordinance.
Some of the environmentalists, who were religiously following the council discussion Tuesday, while saying they are "partially" contented with the results of the long drawn-out debate, pointed out the seeming "lopsidedness" of City Councilor Beethoven L. Orcullo's report.
The environmentalists noted that Orcullo didn't even mention the scientific findings from the studies made by the PCEEM, DOST, and another study despite the fact that these are vital to the issue.
Meanwhile, on the issue concerning the Talomo-Lipadas watershed, Lumain blamed the DCWD for "raising the alarm that lead from banana plantations could seep into the underground source of drinking water."
"The statement of Lopez about massive pollution from lead, pesticides and herbicides sparked wild protest against plantations," Lumain said.
Lumain accused Lopez of "mobilizing several environmentalists in an unreasonable crusade to drive away investors that could have pumped precious capital in the third district," which has vast potential for agricultural development.
"We, in the City Council are all for environmental protection. But, we are also for economic development. No less than the PCEEM (People Collaborating on Environmental and Economic Management), after conducting a study, denied allegations of Lopez that lead from the plantations contaminated the watershed area. The PCEEM study made Lopez your modern-day liar twice over," Lumain said.
On another issue regarding the continued use of asbestos pipes, which is believed to be cancer causing, Lumain again chided the DCWD for denying the use of the same pipes.
"They lied about the asbestos pipes and could be blamed for the death of hundreds of cancer-stricken Dabawenyos with their dubious argument that asbestos is as harmless as an angel despite scientific studies that it is a deadly carcinogen," Lumain said.
Lumain, in this regard, bared plans of proposing a resolution demanding for the immediate removal of the "deadly pipes."
He also contemplated on drafting another resolution asking the DCWD to fulfill its promise to install a water pump over a high-yielding deposit in Indangan and conduct a survey of water sources in the second district under a long-term development program.
In response to the tirades of Lumain against the DCWD, Lopez said the issues being raised were all absurd.
"I do not know if he (Lumain) understood what he was saying. We (DCWD) are not fond of dealing lies. Kung namakak mi (If we lied), then the DCWD will not be awarded for having best water source," Lopez said.
Lopez reacted to Lumain's raps on the lack of water supply in the second district claiming that 70 percent of the residents in the same district has been served with water.
"The DCWD already explained why the Indangan source would no longer be used. The distance is too far and lesser ang profit ng DCWD kasi wala masyadong customers. We planned to use the Dumoy source in bringing water supply up to Bunawan and Lasang," Lopez said.
Lopez admitted that the plan would involve bigger budget, which is estimated at P100 million.
"Pero, makabawi man gud ang DCWD kay kung magbutang ug tubo from Dumoy water source going to Bunawan and Lasang, along the way naa'y mga customer. Kung naa la'y underwater source sa Bunawan wala man unta'y problema. We had done drillings in the area pero wala gyu'y tubig," Lopez said, adding that he still respected Lumain's views as the councilor is entitled to his opinion. AAG
(March 24, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
NBI sees block to filing of drug raps