Cimatu orders Davao gulf cleanup

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu said he will relocate informal settler families (ISF) as a long-term solution for the Davao Gulf cleanup but for the meantime, a temporary solution will be put up to solve the high coliform level in the water body.

“As long as ISF will continue to defecate in the coastal areas, there will be coliform. Livestock farms who direct animal wastes to the gulf also contribute to the high coliform,” Cimatu said.

In a Pre-SONA event on July 17 at the SMX event center attended by different national agency leaders, Cimatu said he will be establishing a temporary sewerage treatment facility, similar to those installed in the esteros of Metro Manila, in the coastal areas in the city habituated by ISF.

“This temporary sewerage system has been done in the esteros of Manila Bay,” he said.

According to Cimatu, in the temporary sewage system, there will be a communal toilet to cater about 10 families with a temporary sewer that will be emptied weekly.

“This can be a temporary solution before we can totally relocate the ISF,” he said.

Cimatu said he will direct the DENR XI Regional Director Ruth Tawantawan to set up the said facility.

“Relocation of the ISF is the real long-term solution, so we have to do something – to put a temporary septic system to these group of ISF,” Cimatu said.

He added that another looming problem for the relocation is the culture of the ISF especially most of them are noted to be Badjaos who prefer to live in the coast.

Last year dead marine animals were found dead in the Davao Gulf. Just this month, the high coliform level in the said Gulf caused the cancellation of a swim leg of a triathlon event in the city.