DAVAO CITY, Philippines—A homeowners’ association in Davao’s Toril district is urging the city council to reject a private company’s plan to put up a memorial park near the neighborhood for fear the cemetery would contaminate their source of drinking water. The proposed memorial park would occupy a 5.3-hectare site above the city’s aquifer.
If approved, the private cemetery, proposed to be established by South Grove Memorial Park Inc. in Barangay (village) Dumoy, would be located next to three water production wells of the Davao City Water District (DCWD), the association pointed out.
Ricardo Jimenez, Jr., secretary of the United Residents and Homeowners Association of Dacoville Inc. (Urhadi), said they want the city council to thumb down the proposal because it would threaten their source of drinking water. Urhadi has about 600 households on its roster of members.
“Dumoy area is an aquifer and by law it is a protected area. It is our stance to oppose the project because the area is a vital part of the environmentally protected area,” Jimenez said.
Dumoy, which hosts 36 production wells of the DCWD, supplies about 75 percent of the water needs of Davao City.
The project has already passed first and second reading and is up for third reading.
South Grove said it has secured all the necessary documents for the project. These include a certification from the DCWD, which was signed by acting General Manager Edwin Regalado on August 9, that says the project is safe as long as South Grove puts up proper solid and liquid waste disposal facilities.
The company also claimed that the Mines and Geosciences Bureau had given the go signal to the project.
Jimenez said they had requested the city council to conduct a public consultation so they could make their opposition heard.