Environment advocates urged the youth to take part in protecting Davao City’s watershed.

Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (Idis) Saturday, March 23, led the monthly community-based water monitoring in Barangay Tawantawan, Baguio District, wherein Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) members from barangays Carmen, Cadalian, and Malagos, and Biology students from the University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep) volunteered to monitor the Panigan-Tamugan river, which will be among Davao’s next water source.

The river is the site of the Davao City Bulk Water Supply (DCBWS), a joint-venture of the Davao City Water District (DCWD), Apo Agua Infrastructure, Inc. (AAII) - an Aboitiz Equity Ventures company, and JV Angeles Construction.

Idis community organizer Rey Anthony Sapid said that volunteers of the Bantay Bukid, consisting of 10 individuals, are currently monitoring the area.

He said that the designated volunteers of the watershed are not enough, thus, Idis took initiative to seek help from the youth sector.

“One of the main objectives of the water monitoring, is para makita nato ang kahimtang sa Panigan-Tamugan River, kung naa ba’y presence of pesticides or wala or unsa ang mga parameters nga dapat buhaton,” Sapid said.

The Idis representative said that the water source is facing serious threats, including nearby poultry and piggery farms, and monocropping plantations that carry out wastes that are thrown out to the river.

SK chairman of Barangay Cadalian Jommel Porlares said that their participation in protecting the environment plays a huge role in encouraging more youth to preserve and protect the enviornment.

“It is ironic nga we are an archipelago country, with connected body of waters, apan makasinati gihapon ta og shortage sa tubig (but we still experience water shortage),” Porlares said.

Idis, together with the Bantay Bukid and Bantayo Aweg, another environmental group, will continue to train communities in the area to ensure that the city’s next water source will not be harmed. (Jessa Mae B. Reston and Arrianne Kate S. Arilla, Usep interns)