Dabawenyos should protect water sources before it dries up
Water may cover over 70% of the earth’s surface but Dabawenyos should disabuse their minds and stop believing that water is an infinite resource because it is not.
“Dabawenyos are very lucky because we have one of the cleanest potable water in the world---the second actually,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said. However, she added, we should learn how to use our water wisely and protect our water sources from contaminants.
The world’s water supply is being depleted at an alarming rate and we should not think that we here in Davao are exempted from this worldwide phenomenon, she said. Just recently, Zozobrado said, the United States has admitted that at least 36 States are set to face water shortage in the next five years due to the drying up of their water sources as a result of drought, rising temperatures, urban sprawl, population growth excessive use and waste of water.
The Davao City Water District has already admitted that it is not comfortable with the 70-year lasting capacity projection on underground water sources. DCWD is thus undertaking studies to search for alternative sources of potable water supply. As if this was not enough, a study conducted by the Ateneo de Davao University and the DCWD confirmed the presence of pesticide in the city’s premier watersheds.
“This should be a wake up call to all of us to protect out water sources considering the growing population of Davao and the increasing industrialization of the city,” she said. We should put a premium and prioritize the safety of our water sources if we do not want to end up like the US, Australia, Africa and other countries faced with water shortage, she said. It is not only the US that is experiencing water shortage problems because even Australia is in the middle of a 30-year dry spell.
Zozobrado said the fact that Asia has 60% of the world’s population but we only have about 30% of the world’s fresh water supply. That is a very macro way of viewing the impending water problem but we can confront it by looking at our own water sources, she said.
She said DCWD has opposed the Hedcor-proposed hydroelectric power plants in Tamugan and Panigan rivers despite Hedcor’s assurance that it would not affect the city’s water supply because it already foresees a brewing water problem even without the plant.
“An increase in demand, the presence of pesticides in our water and now the planned construction of a power plant right on top of our water source may just put too much pressure on our aquifers and we would have to rue our decisions later on.” Zozobrado said.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Mersin City’s solar technology to benefit Davao City
The benefits that Davao City can derive from the proposed sisterhood agreement with Mersin City in Turkey are almost endless but one significant area the city can start with is Mersin’s solar technology.
“It is high time that Davao City look for an alternative source of energy and one of the best sources we can tap is solar energy which is already widely used in Mersin City,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said. She said the committee on international relations is in the process of gathering data and is set to propose a twinning agreement with Mersin City.
Mersin City is a highly developed city which boasts of being the location of the 52-floor Mertim Tower, the second tallest skyscraper in Turkey. However, Zozobrado said, what is distinctive about Mersin City is the use of solar heating panels on top of every building.
The signing into law of the Renewable Energy Act 2008 also known as RA 9513 last December 16 should encourage businesses to explore the possibility of investing in renewable energy sources in Davao City. This law, which provides tax and other incentives for businesses that will invest in renewable energy sources, signifies a more politically and economically-friendly atmosphere for these types of investments.
Solar panels are everywhere in Mersin City and we can replicate that here in Davao City, Zozobrado said. Solar energy can be converted into other energy forms to generate power through the use of devices called solar panels. Solar panels are multi-purpose because they can be used to generate electricity, heat and for domestic purposes such as heating home water.
“Solar panels are the same devices that brought power to Barangay Dalag in Marilog District,” Zozobrado said. The project, which was spearheaded by the Yamog non government organization, USAID and Davao Light Power Corporation (which provided the solar panels), has provided power to 30 households and two street lighting facilities in Marilog.
If this was done in Marilog, she said, then there is a possibility of doing this for some if not all parts of Davao City. “We can get feedback from Mersin City as to how they made the installation of solar panels in all buildings possible,” she added.
Zozobrado said they are already taking the initial steps to initiate the forging of a sisterhood agreement with Mersin City and hopes to ink something soon,
The benefits that Davao City can derive from the proposed sisterhood agreement with Mersin City in Turkey are almost endless but one significant area the city can start with is Mersin’s solar technology.
“It is high time that Davao City look for an alternative source of energy and one of the best sources we can tap is solar energy which is already widely used in Mersin City,” councilor Rachel Zozobrado said. She said the committee on international relations is in the process of gathering data and is set to propose a twinning agreement with Mersin City.
Mersin City is a highly developed city which boasts of being the location of the 52-floor Mertim Tower, the second tallest skyscraper in Turkey. However, Zozobrado said, what is distinctive about Mersin City is the use of solar heating panels on top of every building.
The signing into law of the Renewable Energy Act 2008 also known as RA 9513 last December 16 should encourage businesses to explore the possibility of investing in renewable energy sources in Davao City. This law, which provides tax and other incentives for businesses that will invest in renewable energy sources, signifies a more politically and economically-friendly atmosphere for these types of investments.
Solar panels are everywhere in Mersin City and we can replicate that here in Davao City, Zozobrado said. Solar energy can be converted into other energy forms to generate power through the use of devices called solar panels. Solar panels are multi-purpose because they can be used to generate electricity, heat and for domestic purposes such as heating home water.
“Solar panels are the same devices that brought power to Barangay Dalag in Marilog District,” Zozobrado said. The project, which was spearheaded by the Yamog non government organization, USAID and Davao Light Power Corporation (which provided the solar panels), has provided power to 30 households and two street lighting facilities in Marilog.
If this was done in Marilog, she said, then there is a possibility of doing this for some if not all parts of Davao City. “We can get feedback from Mersin City as to how they made the installation of solar panels in all buildings possible,” she added.
Zozobrado said they are already taking the initial steps to initiate the forging of a sisterhood agreement with Mersin City and hopes to ink something soon,
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
