CAGAYAN de Oro City Councilor Edna Dahino said instead of charging the residents an additional 25-centavo per cubic meter for "watershed protection," the city could instead lower it with P1 or P5 charge per month.
Dahino said a 1 to 5 peso per month collection for the proposed Payment for Ecological Services (PES) could already generate hundreds of thousands considering the number of water consumers in the city.
"This is a win-win solution, the people will not be burdened and at the same time we are taking part of a movement to protect our environment," Dahino said.
She added, that the recently-approved Arbor Day which entails a tree-planting activity could also be incorporated to this cause.
"The Arbor Day activities is assigned with Clenro (City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office) and they are mandated to make it their regular program. So when it becomes a part of their program, they will allocate a budget for it. That way, we won't have to spend much and charge the public for the same cause," Dahino said in an interview.
Some recommendations include sourcing the PES from the city's General Fund, but Dahino said this move might affect priority projects of the City Government.
City Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya, the proposal's proponent said, that his committee is currently consolidating all suggestions from different groups.
Nacaya said in the next public hearing, he would present his version of the proposal, saying the previous presentation that sought a 25 centavo per cubic meter charge for households and 50 centavos per cubic meter for the industry sector, is the Cagayan de Oro River Basin Council's version.
He pointed out that while he was also open to source the PES to the city's General Fund, it is "still better if it has the participation of the public as one of the ways to give back to Mother Nature".
The proposed ordinance aims to set up an Ecological Services and Protection Fund to protect six watershed areas in the city, particularly in Iponan, Alae, Agusan, Gusa, Cugman, and Bigaan.
This move is in line with Section 16 of Republic Act 7160 which provides that local government units shall ensure and support the preservation and enrichment of culture, promote health and safety, and enhance the right of people to a balanced ecology, among others.