The Threat of the Expansion of the Banana Plantation in Mt. Talomo-Lipadas Watershed, Davao City
Introduction
According to studies of the Davao City Water District, 98 percent of the city’s drinking water is sourced from groundwater mainly from Talomo-Lipadas.
This 38,000-hectare watershed has an annual volume of water catch of 760 million cubic meters (MCM) or 2 MCM per day. It is one of the nine watersheds in the city that direly needs protection.
In Davao City the main source of water supply is ground water. Hence, the city depends largely on the Mt. Talomo-Lipadas watershed. This watershed is now being threatened by expanding vegetable farms, creeping banana and pineapple plantations, illegal logging and other deleterious undertakings. A portion of the Mt. Talomo-Lipadas watershed, some 530 hectares inside the Mt. Apo Natural Park, has already been denuded (DCWD).
Mt. Talomo-Lipadas watershed, the primary source of water in Davao City, is now in danger of expansion and encroachment of banana plantations in its protected area, especially at the foot slopes of Mt. Apo and along the steep slopes from the river’s tributary to Lipadas river, the City’s Aquifer. The presence of banana plantations and their continued expansion poses a clear and present danger on the groundwater resources of the watershed. Moreover, the activities of these plantations cause health problems to residents in surrounding areas(DCWD).
Every Filipino as enshrined in our Constitution is tasked “to protect and advance the rights of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature”. It is on this basis that this paper was given birth to strike a balanced trade-off between environmental care and economic development alongside people 's health.
Statement of the Problem This study was conducted to look into the status of the the Talomo – Lipadas Watershed. It aims to answer the following questions:
1. To identify its significance to the people of Davao City.
2. To look into the threat of the expansion of banana plantation posed to
According to studies of the Davao City Water District, 98 percent of the city’s drinking water is sourced from groundwater mainly from Talomo-Lipadas.
This 38,000-hectare watershed has an annual volume of water catch of 760 million cubic meters (MCM) or 2 MCM per day. It is one of the nine watersheds in the city that direly needs protection.
In Davao City the main source of water supply is ground water. Hence, the city depends largely on the Mt. Talomo-Lipadas watershed. This watershed is now being threatened by expanding vegetable farms, creeping banana and pineapple plantations, illegal logging and other deleterious undertakings. A portion of the Mt. Talomo-Lipadas watershed, some 530 hectares inside the Mt. Apo Natural Park, has already been denuded (DCWD).
Mt. Talomo-Lipadas watershed, the primary source of water in Davao City, is now in danger of expansion and encroachment of banana plantations in its protected area, especially at the foot slopes of Mt. Apo and along the steep slopes from the river’s tributary to Lipadas river, the City’s Aquifer. The presence of banana plantations and their continued expansion poses a clear and present danger on the groundwater resources of the watershed. Moreover, the activities of these plantations cause health problems to residents in surrounding areas(DCWD).
Every Filipino as enshrined in our Constitution is tasked “to protect and advance the rights of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature”. It is on this basis that this paper was given birth to strike a balanced trade-off between environmental care and economic development alongside people 's health.
Statement of the Problem This study was conducted to look into the status of the the Talomo – Lipadas Watershed. It aims to answer the following questions:
1. To identify its significance to the people of Davao City.
2. To look into the threat of the expansion of banana plantation posed to
References: Sun Star, November 21, 2003, pp 1 & 15 The Mindanao Mirror, November 28, 2003, page 21