THE INTERFACING Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) expressed dismay at the continuous support of Mayor Sebastian Duterte to the Waste-to-Energy Incineration Project stated during his recent State of the City Address this afternoon and the exclusion of other environmental issues that the City is experiencing.
IDIS has always been vocal in its opposition to the Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Incineration Project due to its adverse effects on humans and the environment. As we always reiterate, burning wastes produces highly hazardous chemicals such as dioxins and furans.
These toxic chemicals are known to be carcinogenic, impact the neurological development of children, cause respiratory diseases, and pollute our water and air. The project will also exacerbate the effects of climate change as it incites the city to produce more waste to keep the facility running. It would even result in the importation of waste from other provinces or regions just to meet the minimum requirements.
Instead of pushing for this project, we have been urging the City Government to opt for zero waste solutions, such as reducing plastic usage, enhancing segregation system facilities, segregated-based collection, composting facilities, Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF), and supporting Community-Based Waste Management systems, small-scale recycling and composting enterprises, and resource collectors.
The barangay local government unit of Mintal has been supporting the initiatives of the Mintal Resource Collectors Association. The collected waste in Barangay Mintal has dropped drastically after its inception – from 24 tons of garbage per collection to 8-9 tons of garbage, and still aiming for zero waste.
This only shows that Dabawenyos can be DCplinado if we have enough support from the local government and the decision-makers have the political will to do so. This also proves that Zero Waste is not an “idealistic” solution to address our waste management problem.
While we laud the proclamation of Mayor Duterte that mining is not welcome in Davao City, we also expect him to call the attention of his governing body to fast-track the decade-long watershed issues in Sitios Kalatong, Tabak, and Tribal in Brgy. Carmen, Baguio District. These Sitios have multiple environmental issues including the illegal selling of ancestral lands, rampant encroachment, and cutting of trees within the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed, one of the sources of our drinking water.
We already conducted multiple joint inspections in the said areas and convened various meetings to come up with an action plan, but up until now, the City has not acted on any of it. If we do not act now, we might lose one of our watersheds shortly.
Atty. Mark Peñavler
IDIS executive director
