All set for 5th Watershed Stakeholders Summit here

INTERFACE Development Interventions (Idis) will spearhead the fifth Watershed Stakeholders Summit, focusing on the conservation of Tamugan Panigan River, on June 29 at The Ritz Hotel, Garden Oasis, Davao City.

Idis policy advocacy specialist lawyer Mark T. Peñalver, during I-Speak Media Forum held at City Hall of Davao yesterday, June 22, said the event will cover the issues regarding the preservation of possible potable water sources and the inadequacy of different water protection agencies in the city.

The Watershed Stake- holders Summit, Pe¤alver said, has started since 2013 by Idis and has gained support from the Local Government Unit, Watershed Manegement Council, Department of Enviornment and Natural Resources, Philippine Eagle Center, and Davao City Water District.

"With the eight watersheds we have in the city, only Tamugan River has passed the standards of potable water resource by Davao City Water District (DCWD), aside from the Talomo River we are currenly getting our supply from,” Peñalver said.

The rest of the water-

sheds, he added, are positive in chemical contaminations from pesticides used in some banana plantations near the watershed areas.

Peñalver said the assessment of Tamugan River is seen to be an urgent call as DCWD confirmed that water supply from Talomo River is decreasing. Thus, Idis is supporting DCWD by conducting water monitoring every month at Tamugan River.

"We have seen in our monthly results that the river has been consistent with its below average level of chemical presence which is a good indicator that it will be a good water source," he said.

With the theme "Connecting Watershed Stakeholders in Davao City from Ridge to Reef", Peñalver said they want to include coastal areas residents in the event to include them in the information dissemination of proper protection of watersheds.

"For three years in having this summit, we saw that the people living in upland areas have practiced proper waste management and promot protection to watershed since they now realized the importance of such actions," Peñalver said.

He added that through this event the upland residents can present their efforts and encourage the people living in low land areas to do the same to continuously protect the water systems from upland to coastal areas.

This year, he said 150 participants representing various sectors like academe, religious, indigenous people, farmers, non-government organizations, business, and national and local government units are expected to arrive.

Peñalver also said Idis looks forward to the presence of the National Water Regulatory Board in the event as it is the main agency who can further discuss the ground water monitoring in the city.