THE City Government of Digos has approved the Digos River Watershed Protection, Conservation, and Management Ordinance, aimed at safeguarding the Tampurong watershed and its sub-watersheds in Binaton, Dulangan, Balabag, and Goma.
The ordinance introduces a community-based riverbank restoration program, which seeks to partner with local communities to ensure that watershed protection efforts are sustainable, inclusive, and community-driven.
A key feature of the ordinance is the establishment of a Watershed Management Council, which will oversee the implementation and enforcement of the city’s watershed code. In addition, Barangay Watershed Management Councils will be created in each affected barangay to carry out localized actions in line with the ordinance.
“This ordinance is very much needed for the protection and conservation, and of course, the sustainable development of the Digos River watershed, particularly the Tampurong watershed and its sub-watersheds,” said Mark Peñalver, Executive Director of Interfacing Development Intervention for Sustainability (IDIS), in an interview with SunStar Davao on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.
The ordinance also includes strict environmental safeguards, such as the prohibition of dumping waste and garbage or engaging in activities like hunting that may compromise watershed integrity.
Violators may face penalties of up to one-year imprisonment, a fine of not more than ₱5,000, or both. Rovie Ann Remolleno, Davao del Sur State College Intern