Davao Environmental Group Urges Stronger Plastic Ban Enforcement After Watershed Cleanup
Following a significant waste collection effort along a critical water source, a prominent environmental organization in Davao City is pressing local authorities for more rigorous implementation of existing environmental regulations. The Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS), in collaboration with Bantay Bukid volunteers, conducted a cleanup operation that revealed alarming levels of pollution, prompting calls for immediate action.
Waste Audit Uncovers Disturbing Pollution Levels
During January's Zero Waste Month celebrations, IDIS and volunteers targeted Sitio Bagong along the Tamugan River for a comprehensive waste and brand audit cleanup. The team managed to collect seven full sacks containing a total of 797 individual pieces of trash. The haul included numerous PET bottles, various junk food wrappers, and multiple glass liquor containers. Most concerning were the 11 discarded diapers discovered during the operation, which volunteers classified as highly infectious and biodegradable waste that poses serious contamination risks to water quality.
Brand Audit Points to Major Corporate Contributors
The brand audit component of the cleanup provided revealing data about pollution sources. Coca-Cola PET bottles topped the list with 75 pieces collected, followed closely by Silver Swan products from NutriAsia with 62 items. Nature Spring bottled water accounted for 60 pieces, while Tanduay Rhum bottles numbered 34. This data provides concrete evidence of which products are most frequently improperly disposed of in this sensitive watershed area.
Existing Legislation Needs Stronger Enforcement
Davao City already has substantial environmental protections on the books, but IDIS argues enforcement remains inconsistent. City Ordinance No. 0500-21, commonly known as the "No to Single-Use Plastics Ordinance," explicitly prohibits the sale, use, or distribution of single-use plastics without special permits. This comprehensive ban covers drinking cups, condiment containers, plastic straws, disposable cutlery, and clamshell packaging. Additionally, the Panigan-Tamugan Sub-Watershed Ordinance of 2025 provides specific protection for the watershed that supplies the Apo Agua bulk water system, banning large-scale activities that could compromise water quality.
Coastal Cleanup Reveals Similar Patterns
This recent river cleanup follows a similar pattern observed during previous environmental efforts. In an earlier cleanup along Davao City's Coastal Road, IDIS and volunteers collected 12 sacks of trash dominated by PET bottles and plastic sachets. That operation found 196 Nature Spring bottles, 8 Coca-Cola containers, 73 Oishi sachets, 158 Jack 'n Jill sachets, and 33 C2 bottles from Universal Robina.
Call for Public Responsibility and Regulatory Action
IDIS has issued a dual appeal following their cleanup findings. The organization is calling for stronger and more consistent enforcement of Davao City's single-use plastics ban, along with stricter regulation of recreational activities in watershed areas, particularly within the Tamugan-Panigan Watershed. Simultaneously, the group urges the public to take greater personal responsibility for keeping the city's rivers and coastal areas clean, emphasizing that environmental protection requires both regulatory action and community participation.
