PRESS RELEASE
March 15, 2010
Davao City —- On the 73rd Araw ng Dabaw, KATRIBU, a lumad sectoral party, highlighted the significance of Davao River to the indigenous peoples or lumads in the founding of the city through a Davao River clean up activity.
The clean up drive led by Katribu in partnership with PANALIPDAN-Southern Mindanao is participated by more than one hundred volunteers who called for the rehabilitation of the historic Davao River.
KATRIBU Coordinator Jolito Diarog stressed the historical significance of the Davao River in the foundation of Davao and emphasized the lumads’ role in defending the community.
“The Davao River was where Datu Bago defended our land from the plundering American colonizers. It is the source of life of all indigenous communities way back in the 1800’s,” said Diarog.
Also timed for the 13th Annual International Day of Action Against Dams, and For Rivers, Water and Life, the clean-up drive is part of KATRIBU’s environmental and land reform agenda which focuses on environmental protection and against capitalist plunder of our natural resources for food sovereignty and preservation of life.
Call for stronger commitment to protect Davao’s rivers
“In these times when we are experiencing the worst forms of natural disasters such as the current El Nino phenomenon, and the lessons learned from the tragedies wrought by Ondoy and Pepeng, we cannot overemphasize the need to strengthen our commitment in preserving our rivers, our water resources and the environment as a whole.”
Lamenting however on the state of the city’s rivers at present, Diarog warned regarding its exploitation by private corporations and multinational companies.
He cited some situation in the country wherein, “the state of our rivers is appalling as they are subject to the destruction and plunder by foreign and huge profit – oriented projects. Rivers have become depositories of mine wastes and toxic chemicals from plantations. They have been drilled and diverted due to mega dams.”
Protect the Tamugan-Panigan Watershed
Aside from the rehabilitation of Davao River, Diarog also called on the Davaoenos to be vigilant in protecting the Tamugan – Panigan Watershed especially in light of the updates that the Davao City Water District (DCWD) has initially agreed to share the use of the river with HEDCOR Aboitiz.
“DCWD and HEDCOR are using the overly dramatized power crisis issue and the state of calamity declaration to justify the exploitation of these very vital watersheds and ‘ground recharge zones.’ We call on the people not to be bullied by this scheme by the Arroyo government,” said Diarog.
KATRIBU also expressed fears that the calamity funds from the declaration will go nowhere else but to oil the electoral machinery of politicos like Mrs. Arroyo and her allies.
For reference:
JOLITO DIAROG
Davao City Coordinator
Katribu Partylist
