By Carmelle Marie Harrow
Saturday, September 3, 2011
DAVAO City Water District (DCWD) admitted they do not have an in-house hydrologist who will conduct study and provide data to prove that there is still sufficient amount of water that can be used for domestic purposes.
"We are honest in saying that we do not have enough data to be used for any analysis, and the feasibility study in Sirawan-Binugao watershed is still on-going," said Imelda Magsusi, spokesperson of DCWD.
During Friday's joint council committee hearing, Councilor Pilar Braga said DCWD gave a statement that there will be no problem if Aboitiz Power Corp. use ground water for the coal-fired power plant's operation.
Magsusi read DCWD's letter addressed to Aboitiz Power stating that the water utility firm have no scientific data to prove otherwise their assumption.
"We were honest in saying that we do not have specific scientific data because we do not have a hydrologist to do the study," Magsusi said.
DCWD recommends that the area where the proposed power plant will be put up be classified as protected medium-density industrial area to protected high-density industrial area.
"We suggest that as zoning is inevitable a spot zoning be done and reclassify just the area where they will be putting up a plant," Magsusi added.
With DCWD's statement, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said that they cannot operate on mere assumptions and suggested that next time they make categorical data because he will not allow any enterprise to be put up that will be asking their approval without scientific empirical data provided.
Magsusi, on the other hand, said that no hydrologist dare be employed under the government because of meager pay.
"Wala'y hydrologist na mo-atraka ug trabaho sa government kay baba ang sweldo. Ang kanang study pud nila, it will take years before they can be accomplished," Magsusi said.
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on September 04, 2011.
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