A SUBDIVISION developer joined the call to save the Shrine Hills with Davao City Councilor Leonardo R. Avila III urging action based on the recommendations by the Mountain Haven Development Inc., which has a development project at the foot of the hill.
Mountain Haven has been checking on the source of unusually large volume of water that has been flowing down Nacilla Road, the road leading to its development project Villa Azalea, which has not been experienced as recently as three years ago.
Taking up the concern in his privilege speech at the City Council session Tuesday, Avila said, "The frequency of the rain and precipitation getting heavier, and that there are patches of no vegetation that can exacerbate flooding and landslide."
"Even if declared as sub protected zone, we must start to rehabilitate soonest time possible," he added.
Shrine Hills has been declared as a sub-protected zone by the city following calls by Maa residents to regulate property development on the slopes because these endanger residents downhill.
This resulted in the suspension of at least two development projects right on the hills' eastern slopes.
In a letter to Sun.Star Davao with regards the problem, project management specialist of Mountain Haven Nino Martin Pineda wrote, "Since 2009, we have been monitoring the development on this area both on a geologic and real property development point of view. Our most recent exploration activity conducted this month reveal that the extent of mass movement and water velocity intensity has exponentially increased so much so that action must be done now to mitigate a bigger environmental disaster from occurring."
Pineda attached several photos and an inter-company memorandum explaining the geologic and geomorphic environment of Shrine Hills, including the type of soil on the hill - generally, limestone. They also submitted maps from Google Earth in 2002 as compared to 2014 to back up their concern.
"By comparing the 2002 Google Map against the 2014 Google map, the following are evident: The volume of trees specifically at the area from DMCI/Positano down to Yniguez Subdivision was drastically reduced. Systematic tree cutting is evident... The Shrine Hills road has no drainage. All the water coming here will also have no recourse but to flow below toward Maa side of this portion of Shrine Hills," the geomorphic study of Shrine Hills using Google Maps submitted by Mountain Haven further states.
"Assuming all roads have good drainage systems, the outlet for the whole area of Shrine Hills, Maa side ... is through three drainage canals plus the DatuLuho Creek. These are: Nacilla Village road, Yniguez Subdivision Main road, and Trinidad Greenhills main road. This situation can be likened to draining one big tub using three straws (the subdivision main roads) plus one bigger straw (DatuLoho Creek)," the study further states.
"We have to have a plan," Avila said in his speech.
Shrine Hills was declared a sub-protected area by the 16th Legislative Council in June 2013 after residents of Maa at the foot of the hills have been warning of landslides and flooding because of the continued denudation of the hills.
The residents' complaints and warnings brought forth the Save the Shrine Hills movement. With the declaration of the hills as a sub-protected area, the major development projects on its slopes have been suspended while the implementing rules and regulations are still being drafted.
Mountain Haven recommends real-time coordination between technically proficient person and the community, erosion control to include planting of both fast and slow-growing trees and shrubs, and slope protection like coco mats where there are high slippage or landslides, and water dispersion and redistribution through construction of a drainage line along Shrine Hills Road and construction of a catchment line near the bottom of the Shrine Hills, directing flow to Datu Luho, which also must be rehabilitated.