DAVAO CITY – The Watershed Management Council (WMC) has passed resolutions to regulate the conduct of recreational activities in watershed areas in Davao City.

In a statement, the city government of Davao said the WMC passed a resolution declaring that trekking activities are prohibited in watershed areas. Likewise, the WMC passed a resolution adopting the proposed guidelines on the conduct of recreational activities within the watershed areas of Davao City.

"This was in response to the increasing activities in the watershed areas where it was observed that solid wastes are left by the trekkers and other locals," the city government said. Last May 19, a committee hearing at the City Council was conducted for the setting of guidelines for the conduct of recreational activities in watershed areas.

Another committee hearing is set in June to improve the guidelines in order to include the issue of waste disposal. Based on the Status Report on the Davao City Watershed by the WMC dated May 21, 2021, among the issues reported to them were the construction of cottages for rent in Sitio Masamba, Barangay Wines and Sitio Bala, Barangay Tamugan, the conduct of trekking activities, and the operation of a public swimming pool in Purok Tuburan, Barangay Tambobong.

The WMC also received reports of release of wastewater to the Tamugan River of a farm in Upper Tamugan and the construction of various structures inside a company in Lower Tamugan without a building permit.

The WMC said the farm management already "committed to abandon the lagoon located in the watershed conservation area." It said the farm also committed to "expedite the construction of a biogas digester as recommended by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) to ensure that no wastewater is released in Tamugan River."

"The IEC team has also included in its plan the need to intensify the cleanup campaign drive in all barangays where the watersheds are located," it said.