The Threat of the Expansion of the Banana Plantation free essay sample

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. We will write a custom essay sample on The Threat of the Expansion of the Banana Plantation or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 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 â€Å"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 peoples 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 Talomo-Lipadas watershed. 3. To lay down the views of the government, the youth and the agencies who have interests in the protection of Mt. Talomo-Lipadas watershed as the source of 98 percent of the Davao City’s drinking water. 4. To aware the community on the effects that agricultural activities may have on the general public due to watershed contamination. 5. To identify what significant steps have been undertaken by the local government officials, different non-government organizations, and responsible government organizations to address the existing problem. 6. To urge the relevant organizations and stakeholders to make immediate and effective actions to address the problem. Review of Related Literature A watershed is defined as â€Å"an area of land that drains down the slope to the lowest point. The water moves through a network of drainage pathways that converge into streams and rivers, which become progressively larger as the water moves on downstream, eventually reaching an estuary and the ocean†(Watershed Stewardship Education Program Training Guide, Oregon State University and Sea Grant Extension: http://seagrant. orst. edu/wsep). By the definition of the Davao City Water District (DCWD), a watershed is a basin-like geographical structure bounded by surrounding ridges. It has a network of stream tributaries leading to a common mouth or drainage channel. It is a combination of components such as soil, water, terrain, vegetative cover, and associate animal life. A watershed plays a very critical role in ensuring and abundant supply of round water (Sienes, 2002). â€Å"A watershed is also sometimes called drainage basin or catchment basin. The delineation of the Talomo-Lipadas Area follows the definition of a watershed† (DCWD). 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). The Geosciences Division of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Region XI study provides a concise and definitive description of the Talomo-Lipadas watershed. â€Å"The Talomo watershed has an estimated catchment area of about 20,700 hectares. The principal drainage channel of the watershed is Talomo River whose waters originate from Mt. Talomo which then follows a northeasterly to southeasterly course to Davao Gulf. The total length of Talomo River is about 50. 75 kilometers. Tributaries of Talomo River include: Wangan, Tagoy, Tagakpan, Taguno, and Lucing de Agua Paul. The Lipadas watershed is smaller than Talomo watershed, having an estimated area of only 17,500 hectares. It covers however two Davao City districts. The principal drainage channel of the watershed is the Lipadas River whose headwater is also located in Mt. Talomo. Lipadas River flows in a northeasterly to east-southeasterly direction to Davao Gulf covering an estimated length of 30. kilometers to Davao Gulf. The watershed is drained by several tributaries, including: Bato, Kilate, Catigan, Sirawan, Banas, Tagluno, Tagurano, Kalausan, and Saro. The Talomo and Lipadas Watersheds are two of the nine watersheds of Davao City. They are the main sources of groundwater for the City, even if they comprise only 13% of the entire area. Their two catchment chan nels, the Talomo and Lipadas Rivers, are sources of surface water utilized primarily for irrigation and hydroelectricity. The land area of 38,830 hectares has a population of about 517,000 (2000 Census), 10,000 of whom belong to the Indigenous Peoples Group. Aside from having good quality groundwater, the people also have access to the natural recreational and eco-tourism places. Two of these sites are the Mt. Apo National Park, home for the Philippine Eagle and some endemic flora and fauna, and the Talomo Bay where nesting grounds for giant turtles have recently been identified. One of the natural threats identified by PCEEM stakeholders (Scoping Report, 1999) is erosion, which is generally controlled by slope, climate, nature of bedrock, vegetation and human intervention (i. e. land use and farming practices). On the other hand, man-made activities could induce natural processes, which threaten our watersheds. One is the excessive/improper use of fertilizers and pesticides brought about by these banana plantations and farmers. Another is the increased and mismanaged water demand. And lastly, the improper sewage and solid disposal brought about by the increasing population living in the watershed area. The People Collaborating for Environmental and Economic Management in Davao Foundation, Inc. (PCEEM), a non-governmental organization, is looking for ways to protect watersheds to maintain a potable water source in the future. The organization, which evolved from the former Philippine-Canadian environmental and economic management project, has focused on how it could develop watersheds into a sustainable water source. In its interim report on the state of the Talomo-Lipadas watershed released in April, Dr. Ruth Gamboa, foundation chairman, said they have partnered with stakeholders for scientific and technical studies whose results spontaneously converged on the need to manage that common resource enjoyed not only by all Talomo-Lipadas residents but by a majority of Davaoenos and that is water. The vulnerability of groundwater to pollution depends on a number of factors, namely: geological-lithological (formation of infiltration and percolation zones); morphological (surface form); geo-chemical (binding conditions of soil, composition of pollutants); physical (adhesive and cohesive forces in soils), and hydrogeological (surface and subterranean flows, flow direction and velocity) characteristics of the wa tershed area supplying water to the aquifer and above the aquifer. Until recently, the conventional wisdom was that â€Å"layers of soil and particles of sand, gravel, crushed rocks, and larger rocks were thought to act as filters, trapping contaminants before they could reach the groundwater. † Today an overwhelming wealth of data to the contrary has weakened that argument considerably. The US EPA admits â€Å"that some contaminants can pass through all these filtering layers . . . to contaminate groundwater. Indeed, according to the National Research Council, the First Law of Groundwater Vulnerability is: All groundwater is vulnerable. And the Second Law of Groundwater Vulnerability is: Uncertainty is inherent in all vulnerability assessment. Accordingly, â€Å" Groundwater vulnerability is not a measurable property, but a probability statement about future contamination that must be inferred from surrogate measurements . . . Like weather forecast, vulnerability to contamination is best expressed as a probability of an event . Threats to the health of the aquifers and their recharge areas include soil erosion and flooding due to loss of forest/vegetation cover; wastes, garbage, pesticides/chemicals and other pollutants caused by households, farming, commercial, industrial and other urban activities; and over extraction of groundwater (US EPA, Office of Water, Citizen’s Guide to Groundwater Protection, EPA 440/6-90-004 as quoted in Friends of the Earth, Protecting Groundwater from Pesticides: A Clean Water Action Guide, http://foe. rg/safefood/groundwater/two4. html) Research Design This study will make use of the illustrative- descriptive research to provide a systematic way of looking at events, collecting data, analyzing information and reporting results. An investigation and observation were derived in order to prove the case by interviewing the significant persons involved, the people residing near the watershed, the local officials concerned, and some local agencies. To obtain relevant information, the researcher engaged in internet researches, gathered data from local newspapers, and from different agencies like DENR, DCWD, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Davao City Council, and the Watershed Youth Management Council. Subject of the Study The study focused on the threat of the expansion of the banana plantation in Mount Talomo-Lipadas Watershed, Davao City. Observations and Findings The entire Davao City divided into several sectors, namely: residential, institutional, commercial, industrial, agricultural, public parks, airport, golf courses, and resorts are totally dependent on their water supply from the Talomo – Lipadas Watershed. Multinational and medium-scale industries in food, agriculture, and fishery are found along the coastal barangays. Over the years, transnational corporations gradually stretched their banana and pineapple plantations across Davaos third district where Panigan-Tamugan and Talomo-Lipadas watersheds are located. These watersheds supply all of Davao Citys water need. Environmental groups have consistently assailed these companies for their lackadaisical attitude towards environmental care as evidenced by their use of deadly pesticides that drains down and threatens the health of the water sources. Plantations established before 1982 are not covered by the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). According to the banana and plantation operators (The Mindanao Mirror, November 28, 2003, page 21), these farms, however, are regulated and monitored by the Environmental Management Bureau. Furthermore, they claim that those established after 1982, including the new plantations, have their ECCs still being processed and that a Multi-partite Monitoring group is in place. Sixty percent of banana plantations operating within the Lipadas-Talomo watershed areas have no Environmental Compliance Certificates, Engr. Rosindo Almonte, chief of the Davao City Water District (DCWD) watershed division said. Victor Canizares, president of Watershed Management Coordinating Council (WMCC), said that about 3,000 hectares of banana plantations in Manuel Guianga, a part of the watershed area, have no environmental compliance certificate. Almonte said the banana plantations continue to operate and some have even expanded their area of coverage. He cited a banana plantation in Barangay Daliaon, Toril which in October, started developing 14 hectares and in three to four months time, expanded to 100 hectares. Banana plantations have been blamed for contaminating the watershed area, he said. Almonte cited a study which shows that â€Å"heavy metals† found in the surface water of the Lipadas-Talomo river are â€Å"beyond the minimum standard level. He said the use of agro-chemicals, toxic and hazardous pesticides by the banana planations, are causing the contamination. â€Å"We are alarmed by the initial findings which shows the contamination of our watershed area and which could endanger the health of Dabawenyos,† he said. Almonte also said the expansion of banana plantations has encroached on the Mt. Apo national park. The Watershed Youth Management Council has identified the AMS, owned by Soriano Farms In c. , the Davao Fruits Corporation and Highland Banana Corporation, Dole-Stanfilco and Global as â€Å"violators. Elizalde Salcedo of the Council said the banana companies â€Å"failed to comply with the 60 day submission †¦. and circumvented the law by using small farmers, to plant bananas as growers with their financial and technical support. † These small farmers having less than 100 hectares of land do not have to apply for Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). Salcedo also cited the Jules Mejos growership and the Skyline Farmers Cooperative for their alleged encroachment in the protected area of the Mt. Apo Natural park in Sitio Domingues, Manuel Guianga, Tugbok District (R. Oledan of MindaNews April 2003). According to Regional Director Gregorio Estrada of the EMB-DENR XI, pesticides cannot contaminate the drinking water sources of Davao City because â€Å"pesticides expire from two and a half days to 35 days of exposure in the environment† (Sun Star, November 21, 2003, pp 1 15). DCWD (Radio Program), however, insists that the year-round use of pesticides in farms guarantees continuous presence of residues in the environment. Pesticide residues were detected in Wangan irrigations within the Talomo area. Their concentration, transport and seepage into the groundwater are yet to be studied. There is always a possibility that pesticides may find their way into the two rivers and ultimately into Talomo Bay. The plantation operators claim their total farm area covers only 5. 6% of the Agricultural Land under the Zoning Ordinance (The Mindanao Daily Mirror, November 28, 2003, page 21). Since both big plantations and small farmers are known to use pesticides, and the more immediate ill effects of farm chemicals are on human health, regular monitoring of farm practices must be done impartially and with thoroughness. Pollution of the city’s rivers was also triggered by continued economic expansion, Martin Obrero, assistant chief of the City Environment and Natural Resource Office, said. He said initial studies found out that toxic metals that contaminated the Lipadas and Talomo watersheds can be traced to banana and pineapple plantations near the area. These plantations are known to be heavy users of petro-chemical based pesticides and fertilizers. Three studies were conducted to assess surface water pollution in Talomo-Lipadas watershed. These studies are: a. Lourdes Simpol, Jinny Ale, Dahlia Cervantes, and Nerrisa D. Avisado, Protocol Development and Testing for Pesticides Monitoring, PCEEM Foundation, Inc. Final Report, Davao City, September 2003. b. Lourdes Simpol, Hydie Maspinas, Tess Tagorda, Nerrisa Avisado, The Physicochemical Analysis of Some Parameters of Lipadas, Talomo, and Bago Aplaya Rivers, PCEEM Foundation Inc. , Final Report, September 2003. c. Ruth Gamboa, Julie Belandres-Otadoy, Nerrisa D. Avisado, Biological Water Quality Assessment of Talomo and Lipadas Rivers, PCEEM Foundation Inc. , Final Report, September 2003. The first report examined the presence of pesticide residues in Wangan Creek which is a tributary of Talomo River at two sampling points, namely: Wangan I, which is downstream of irrigated rice farms (with 10 sampling stations), and Wangan II, which is outside a pineapple plantation (with 5 sampling stations). The objectives of the study are: (a) to design and develop a micro-watershed protocol for pesticide monitoring, and (b) to use the developed protocol in the monitoring of the concentrations of certain target pesticides in their immediate point of discharge. This paper focuses mainly on the results of the second objective. A survey of farmers in Wangan1 resulted in the following list of pesticides which are then included in the monitoring and evaluation by the study, namely: Decis; Karate; Basudine; Cymbush; Machete; Bayluside and Lorsban. In Wangan2, the Study Team was not able to access information on the pesticides used by the pineapple plantation in the area. The Study Team therefore decided to use the same list of pesticides as in Wangan1 plus Sumithon, an insecticide commonly used in banana plantation. Analysis was directed at the presence of residues of the target pesticides, namely: Diazinon; Chlorpyrifos; L-Cyhalothrin; Butachlor and Cypermethrin. The result of the study in Wangan1 showed that chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate found in Lorsban, is the most frequently detected among the pesticides monitored. The other pesticides traced were diazinon, an organophosphate found in Basudine; Butachlor, an organochlorine which is an active substance of Machete, and L-cyhalothrin, a pyrethoid found in Karate. Chlorpyrifos was observed in several stations indicating transport or movement. In Wangan2, three organophosphates were detected, namely: diazinon; chlorpyrifos, and fenitrothion. These are the active ingredients of Basudine; Lorsban, and Sumithion respectively. It was reported that diazinon and chlorpyrifos were detected more frequently than fenitrothion. The Physicochemical Analysis of Some Parameters of Lipadas, Talomo, and Bago Aplaya Rivers study focuses on the health status of the Talomo, Lipadas, and Bago Aplaya Rivers. The study therefore focuses on the following parameters: temperature; pH; dissolved oxygen; biological oxygen demand; total suspended solids; total coliform and fecal coliform; nitrate-nitrogen; phosphate-phosphorus, and metal residues (iron, manganese, zinc and lead). The results of the study suggested that the quality of water in Talomo, Lipadas and Bago Aplaya rivers especially on the downstream are already bad. Total coliform, total suspended solids, fecal coliform, lead, and phosphates were found critical in all five stations of Lipadas River. The same observations were obtained in Talomo and Bago Aplaya Rivers especially on the total coliform and the fecal coliform, implying that these rivers are practically being used to transport waste, both human and otherwise. The biological water quality assessment study confirmed the findings of the physicochemical analysis study. Using macroinvertebrates as indicators of the state of the Talomo and Lipadas Rivers, the study concluded that in Lipadas River, the health of the river in three stations, namely: Guianga, Alambre and Sirawan, was generally poor to very poor. The same conclusion was reported on Talomo River at three stations, namely: Tamayong; Angalan, and Talomo. The PCEEM studies showed that samples of surface water taken from the Talomo River, one of the tributaries of Mt. Talomo- Lipadas watershed in Davao City, has a lead content of . 10mg/liter up to . 326 mg/l; in Lipadas river, . 210 mg/l. The tolerable lead content is only . 05 mg/l, according to the DCWD. High Lead (Pb) concentrations were recorded in Talomo and Lipadas Rivers during the inclusive months of sampling (Jan – Dec 2002). Pesticides were detected in areas with agricultural activities. Chlorpyrifos, detected frequently in water samples from Wangan1 was observed in several stations indicating the possibility of transport or movement. In Wangan2, Diazinon and Chlorpyrifos were detected more frequently than Fenotrothion. All three pesticides were present in several stations, again suggesting possible transport. The concentrations of the residues in Wangan2, located outside a larger agricultural land, were observed to be relatively higher than in Wangan1. Their presence was noted to coincide with siltation of the nearby bodies of water that receive run-offs from cultivated lands. Shenna Rhea Maranguit of Watershed Management Youth Council (WMYC) stressed in her position paper to the City Council, What is happening now, is that banana plantations have been encroaching the Mt. Apo Natural Park. A clearing for the expansion of banana plantations can be seen within the buffer zone just on the other side of the Saro river, the boundary of the Natural Park. Adjoining the location is an existing banana plantations on the steep slopes of more than 18%. This practice violates PD 705 known as the Forestry Law, she added. According to Maranguit, the existing and proposed expansion of banana and pineapple plantations are near the boundaries of two important river system of Lipadas and Talomo, which are the major drainage of Mt. Talomo-Lipadas Watershed which is also the headwaters of Dumoy and Toril groundwater sources that draws about 98% of the total water supply requirements of the city. The Water Code of the Philippines prohibit and control the activities of the owners and occupants of the protected areas and nearby areas that may damage or cause the deterioration of the groundwater. Expounding on her presentations, Maranguit said that after heavy rains, drainage canals from banana and pineapple plantations inundate nearby streams and water sources with contaminated water which adversely affects aquatic life. The proliferation of banana and pineapple plantations were observed in the upper barangays of Baguio, Calinan, Tugbok and Toril districts . The city council, she said should do something about this, and should not wait for another eventuality to happen caused by the prolifera. (R. Palacio of PIA, March 2003) Environmentalists feared the plantation would further expand to 80 hectares including the slopes of the protected area down Saro River. Already, a cable carrier was set up between the protected area to Sitio Saro. Another banana firm is expanding its plantation on the slopes of Saro in violation of the forestry laws that no structures of indigenous species should be within the 18-degree slope. If not stopped, running water contaminated by chemicals used by the banana plantations would go to the river, the WMCC said. Moreover, Victor Canizares, president of WMCC, said that cellophanes which are used to cover the cavendish are thrown just anywhere. The cellophanes are reportedly laced with Lorsban chemicals harmful to the forms of life present in the watershed area. Canizares said the problem in the area had been reported to the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro), then to the Environmental Management Bureau and the Regional Executive Director since three years ago. But nothing has been done. WMCC was worried over the reported dangerous levels of metal content of the rivers because the uplands have been transformed into big plantations. (A. Mellejor of Inquirer News Service, March 2003) Only the Geosciences Division MGB XI study discussed explicitly the groundwater vulnerability within the Talomo-Lipadas area. The study derived the groundwater vulnerability classes within the Talomo-Lipadas watershed by using the groundwater potential zones and the soil leaching potential per terrain mapping unit (TMU). The soil leaching potential map was superimposed with the groundwater potential zones delineated by Asia Geodyne to produce the groundwater vulnerability map. The study reported that the areas with high groundwater vulnerability correspond to the area with the highest groundwater potential, i. e. those with shallow aquifer. The Geosciences Division Study reported that the areas with highest groundwater potential are the fast developing and urbanizing areas. The Geosciences Division MGB XI study reported that its assessment of groundwater vulnerability is limited only on the upper portions of the soil profile. In the year 2003, Resolution No. 039 passed by the Barangay Council of Barangay Manuel Guianga, Tugbok District which was supported by the Davao City Council thru Resolution No. 02464-03 recommending to the City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte the issuance of a stoppage order and the operation of the banana plantation located at the Mt. Apo natural park, more specifically the one operated by Mr. Jules Mejos. Fortunately, the local government granted favorable action to this environmental issue. At present, the Davao City Council passed Resolution No. 3664-04 pushing the National Leadership to declare the Talomo-Lipadas Area as an Environmentally Critical Area. Technically, Talomo-Lipadas is a watershed but our government has not formally proclaimed it as such. If it would be proclaimed as watershed, the Talomo-Lipadas would not be considered as alienable and disposable land. Thus, continued expansion of banana plantations would be deterred. Consequently, the area would be rehabilitated to prov ide the city with quality and safe water coming the Talomo-Lipadas watershed. As an environmentally critical area, the Talomo-Lipadas watershed will now be closely monitored by proper authorities by Strict regulation virtue of complying with the policies of the law on the part of the government on issuing Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECC) will now be done as the watershed is classified as such. The government is burdened to strengthen the laws, enact appropriate and useful policies, provide healthy forest guards and prosecute errant individuals who violate the laws so as to have effective protection of the watershed if it would be proclaimed as environmentally critical area under the NIPAS law. Conclusion The results of the studies have shown that Talomo-Lipadas Area is a great source of water that needs to be conserved, developed and protected. There are settlements and economic activities within the recharge areas of the aquifers; and that some of the activities even encroached the Mt. Apo National Park and in the slopes declared by the Davao City Government as conservation zone. Moreover, it has been determined that groundwater recharge may not be limited to infiltration of rainwater. There are indications that Talomo River and adjacent small river systems significantly contribute to the groundwater recharge. Traces of pesticides have been found in the waters of the Wangan Creek that drains effluents from various farms and other sources. The creek is a tributary to the Talomo River. Talomo, Lipadas, and Bago Aplaya rivers have shown critical levels of fecal coliform, total coliform, and total suspended solids; and unfavorable levels of lead and phosphates, among others. Although all the studies indicate preliminary results, the overall assessment is that the aquifers and its recharge areas in the Talomo-Lipadas area are very vulnerable. Threats to the health of the aquifers and their recharge areas include soil erosion and flooding due to loss of forest/vegetation cover; wastes, garbage, pesticides/chemicals and other pollutants caused by households, farming, commercial, industrial and other urban activities; and possible over extraction of groundwater by the stakeholders themselves. Recommendations Groundwater is one of the most important resources of Davao City. A decision has to be made, therefore, whether to safeguard and protect the resource or leave its future to chance. Both decisions entail tradeoffs in terms of costs and benefits. Protecting the groundwater of Davao City entails adjustments in terms of land use and the use of safe technology both in agricultural production and manufacturing activities. It will also require a very strict waste management regime for settlements within the area. Obviously, these activities entail costs, but these are the costs society generally incurs if it adopts a strategy of sustainable development. On the other hand, without a sustainable resource and waste management, the cost will be higher in the long run, from high cost of water to health problems due water contamination/pollution and decline in productivity, among other costs. To state the obvious, the most preferable option is to protect and conserve the water resources of Davao City. Given the findings, and considering that additional information needs to be gathered, the following policies and/or courses of actions are recommended: Establish a system by which coordination and cooperation among and between stakeholders can be institutionalized with the aim in view of coming up with a more judicious and sustainable use of the Talomo-Lipadas area as a resource. The said system should facilitate and institutionalize a multi-sectoral dialogue with a resolve to use, conserve and protect the area according to sustainable evelopment principles and practices. This multi-sectoral initiative should also be able to tackle such difficult issues as: a. Declaration of the Talomo-Lipadas area as an environmentally-critical area (ECA), if not a watershed area. b. Regulation of all the activities inside the Talomo-Lipadas area. Possible actions could include total reforestation (or tree parks) of the areas identified as high potential for recharge; agro-forestry for moderate rech arge areas; and supervised tillage for low recharge areas. c. Adoption/implementation of strict regulatory measures, if not banning altogether, on the use of pesticides in transition towards organic-based activities. d. Adoption/implementation of appropriate solid and liquid wastes management in the area. e. Formulation/implementation of appropriate zoning plan with regard to agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure and settlements. f. Creation of a water resources development and management board that will have the authority over the water resources of Davao City. This board shall have the power to monitor and regulate water use. . Protection of all headwaters in the Talomo-Lipadas area, including the headwaters of the Davao River. Areas that need immediate protection or regulation, as the case may be, are enclosed in dotted lines in a map below. (The areas outside Davao City, i. e. those in Bukidnon and Davo del Norte, inter-LGU coordination shall have to be pursued). h. Not allowing manufacturing plants or industries to locate within the T alomo-Lipadas area. The City has an industrial zone that can accommodate light, medium and heavy industries outside the watershed. i. Enactment of a Water Resources Management and Development Code or Ordinance directed towards the management, protection, conservation and development of groundwater and surface waters of Davao City. This may be done in relation to item f. j. For the Davao City Water District (DCWD) to install appropriate inter-agency groundwater and surface water monitoring mechanism and facilities to closely monitor presence of pollutants in both surface and groundwater of Talomo-Lipadas watershed. The results of the monitoring activities shall be reported to appropriate and relevant units/agencies of the government for proper action. Along this vein, DCWD shall update its corporate plan for sustainable water utilization. k. Implementation of a comprehensive advocacy program on sustainable water resource management. l. Review of legal issuances. The Davao City Water District (DCWD) as mandated by PD 198; and the Government of the City of Davao as mandated under the Local Government Code of 1991 have to act in concert to protect the Talomo-Lipadas area. Given their mandates, these two agencies have the power, authority and responsibility to put in place protective and/or regulatory actions/measures. To reiterate, these measures include, among other actions as stated in various studies referred to by this report, reforestation and conservation of recharge areas; modifying the land use of areas falling under groundwater recharge and those categorized under moderately and highly vulnerable groundwater areas, strictly controlling or prohibiting the use of agricultural chemicals within the watershed area, and enforce a strict solid and liquid waste management program to control surface water and groundwater pollution. Needless to say, these two agencies need to take the lead in coordination and cooperation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture. In the Talomo-Lipadas area, high groundwater recharge areas are in the environs of Tamayong-Sirib-Daliaon Plantation area; Wangan-Subasta-Talomo River-Riverside area; and the strip that involves, in whole or in part, barangays Manuel Guianga, Manambulan, Camansi, Alambre, Tungkalan, Kilate, Mulig, Tagluno, Catigan, Bato, Bayabas, Marapangi, and Sirawan. To protect the integrity of the recharge areas, its uplands must also be protected and the lowlands with groundwater potential regulated. There is an urgent need to protect, conserve, manage and develop the citys water resources and to regulate the manner and extent of their use and utilization to ensure adequate and clean water supply for its present generation and the generations to come. The Threat of the Expansion of the Banana Plantation free essay sample 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. We will write a custom essay sample on The Threat of the Expansion of the Banana Plantation or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 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 â€Å"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 peoples 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 Talomo-Lipadas watershed. To lay down the views of the government, the youth and the agencies who have interests in the protection of Mt.Talomo-Lipadas watershed as the source of 98 percent of the Davao City’s drinking water. 4. To aware the community on the effects that agricultural activities may have on the general public due to watershed contamination. 5. To identify what significant steps have been undertaken by the local government officials, different non-government organizations, and responsible government organizations to address the existing problem. 6. To urge the relevant organizations and stakeholders to make immediate and effective actions to address the problem. Review of Related Literature A watershed is defined as â€Å"an area of land that drains down the slope to the lowest point. The water moves through a network of drainage pathways that converge into streams and rivers, which become progressively larger as the water moves on downstream, eventually reaching an estuary and the ocean†(Watershed Stewardship Education Program Training Guide, Oregon State University and Sea Grant Extension: http://seagrant. orst. edu/wsep). By the definition of the Davao City Water District (DCWD), a watershed is a basin-like geographical structure bounded by surrounding ridges. It has a network of stream tributaries leading to a common mouth or drainage channel. It is a combination of components such as soil, water, terrain, vegetative cover, and associate animal life. A watershed plays a very critical role in ensuring and abundant supply of round water (Sienes, 2002). â€Å"A watershed is also sometimes called drainage basin or catchment basin. The delineation of the Talomo-Lipadas Area follows the definition of a watershed† (DCWD). 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). The Geosciences Division of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Region XI study provides a concise and definitive description of the Talomo-Lipadas watershed. â€Å"The Talomo watershed has an estimated catchment area of about 20,700 hectares. The principal drainage channel of the watershed is Talomo River whose waters originate from Mt.Talomo which then follows a northeasterly to southeasterly course to Davao Gulf. The total length of Talomo River is about 50. 75 kilometers. Tributaries of Talomo River include: Wangan, Tagoy, Tagakpan, Taguno, and Lucing de Agua Paul. The Lipadas watershed is smaller than Talomo watershed, having an estimated area of only 17,500 hectares. It covers however two Davao City districts. The principal drainage channel of the watershed is the Lipadas River whose headwater is also located in Mt. Talomo. Lipadas River flows in a northeasterly to east-southeasterly direction to Davao Gulf covering an estimated length of 30. kilometers to Davao Gulf. The watershed is drained by several tributaries, including: Bato, Kilate, Catigan, Sirawan, Banas, Tagluno, Tagurano, Kalausan, and Saro. The Talomo and Lipadas Watersheds are two of the nine watersheds of Davao City. They are the main sources of groundwater for the City, even if they comprise only 13% of the entire area. Their two catchment channels, the Talomo and Lipadas Rivers, are sources of surface water utilized primarily for irrigation and hydroelectricity. The land area of 38,830 hectares has a population of about 517,000 (2000 Census), 10,000 of whom belong to the Indi genous Peoples Group. Aside from having good quality groundwater, the people also have access to the natural recreational and eco-tourism places. Two of these sites are the Mt. Apo National Park, home for the Philippine Eagle and some endemic flora and fauna, and the Talomo Bay where nesting grounds for giant turtles have recently been identified. One of the natural threats identified by PCEEM stakeholders (Scoping Report, 1999) is erosion, which is generally controlled by slope, climate, nature of bedrock, vegetation and human intervention (i. e. land use and farming practices). On the other hand, man-made activities could induce natural processes, which threaten our watersheds. One is the excessive/improper use of fertilizers and pesticides brought about by these banana plantations and farmers. Another is the increased and mismanaged water demand. And lastly, the improper sewage and solid disposal brought about by the increasing population living in the watershed area. The People Collaborating for Environmental and Economic Management in Davao Foundation, Inc. (PCEEM), a non-governmental organization, is looking for ways to protect watersheds to maintain a potable water source in the future. The organization, which evolved from the former Philippine-Canadian environmental and economic management project, has focused on how it could develop watersheds into a sustainable water source. In its interim report on the state of the Talomo-Lipadas watershed released in April, Dr. Ruth Gamboa, foundation chairman, said they have partnered with stakeholders for scientific and technical studies whose results spontaneously converged on the need to manage that common resource enjoyed not only by all Talomo-Lipadas residents but by a majority of Davaoenos and that is water. The vulnerability of groundwater to pollution depends on a number of factors, namely: geological-lithological (formation of infiltration and percolation zones); morphological (surface form); geo-chemical (binding conditions of soil, composition of pollutants); physical (adhesive and cohesive forces in soils), and hydrogeological (surface and subterranean flows, flow direction and velocity) characteristics of the wa tershed area supplying water to the aquifer and above the aquifer.