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Representatives from USAID’s Philippine Environmental (EcoGov) Project and the regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) met with Davao officials Aug. 2-5 to discuss the city’s upland, waste and coastal issues and possible Project-assisted interventions. The activity included a workshop, which underscored the interconnectedness and interdependency of the uplands, lowlands and the coastal areas.
Part of the team went on a “scanning” trip, touring the city’s 60-km coastline dotted by 25 of Davao’s 180 barangays. Along the way, the group took note of heavily silted rivers and major waste generators, such as the settlements, the piers and docks and the industrial zones that pose serious threats to the city’s marine life. The team also observed some mangrove areas that were in critical condition. “This face-to-face encounter with our EcoGov and DENR partners was a welcome opportunity for us,” said Ms. Antonette Paña of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office. “We shared our environmental problems with them and they provided us with some valuable insights. There was a lively exchange of information.” EcoGov’s assistance to Davao follows a landscape approach – management of coastal, forest and forest lands as well as solid and water waste. The focus of assistance on solid and wastewater will be the settlements and the heavy industries along the city’s coast, where almost half of the city’s one million people reside. EcoGov will also assist the city develop a Forest Land Use Plan that will help determine various land uses as well as appropriate management schemes. It was agreed to give special attention to the three major watersheds: Talomo and Lipadas watersheds -- Davao’s source of water supply -- and the Davao River watershed, which supports agricultural plantations and industries. Davao , Mindanao’s prime city, is reputedly the world’s largest in terms of land area, covering 244,000 hectares. A known destination for both domestic and international tourists, Davao has attracted big investments – and migrants – over the past few years, putting so much stress on its environment and natural resources.
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