Davao City Councilor Temujin "Tek" Ocampo has issued a public appeal, urging residents to avoid visiting protected natural areas during the Christmas and New Year celebrations. The call emphasizes both public safety and the critical need to safeguard the city's primary water sources.
Appeal for Responsible Celebration and Cleanliness
As chair of the City Council's Committee on Environment, Ocampo made the statement during a media interview on Monday, December 22, 2025, at the Sangguniang Panlungsod. He specifically asked Dabawenyos to refrain from gathering at rivers, waterfalls, and other bodies of water classified as protected zones.
"Sa atoang pagsaulog sa Pasko ug bag-ong tuig mamalihog lang unta me diri sa konseho, muhangyo kami kaninyu nga unta ug naa tay mga basura atong ilabay sa saktong labayanan, tabang ta sa atoang paghinlo sa atoang siyudad (As we celebrate Christmas and the New Year, we appeal to everyone to dispose of trash properly in designated areas and help keep our city clean)," Ocampo said.
He encouraged the community to work together in maintaining cleanliness by observing coordination and upholding the city's "Dabawenyo DCplinado" values. Ocampo advised those planning trips to protected areas to reconsider their plans to prevent accidents and ensure rivers and streams remain pristine and safe as water sources.
History of Threats to the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed
The councilor's warning is backed by a series of documented incidents in the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed, a key future water source for Davao City. The environmental group Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) has repeatedly flagged threatening activities.
On November 24, 2023, IDIS raised concerns over a travel vlogger's Facebook post that allegedly promoted recreational activities in a river within a protected conservation area, which appeared to violate local watershed rules.
By January 3, 2024, IDIS warned of an influx of visitors at the Panigan–Tamugan River in Barangay Carmen. Monitors from Bantay Bukid reported that many visitors ignored restrictions and left behind trash, including plastic waste, liquor bottles, and cigarette butts.
The situation escalated by January 11, 2024, when IDIS condemned garbage dumping along the Panigan River, a tributary near the Apo Agua intake facility that supplies water for the city's bulk water project.
More recently, on October 28, 2025, concerns emerged over water discoloration in parts of the watershed, allegedly caused by wastewater discharge from a nearby piggery. IDIS warned that such contamination could threaten public health and the city's long-term water supply.
Laws Safeguarding Critical Water Sources
Several local ordinances are in place to protect these environmentally critical areas. The Panigan–Tamugan Sub-Watershed Ordinance of 2025 seeks to protect surface water sources, including the primary supply for Apo Agua, which provides bulk water to the Davao City Water District. It bans large-scale activities that could degrade water quality.
Furthermore, City Ordinance No. 0675-21, or the Watershed Conservation Area Protection Ordinance, classifies watershed zones as environmentally critical and requires prior approval for activities like trekking.
Complementing these is City Ordinance No. 0361-10, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Ordinance, which prohibits littering, illegal dumping, and improper waste disposal—violations that directly threaten biodiversity and the preservation of natural environments.
Indigenous Peoples in the area also contribute to its protection, guided by the concept of Pusaka, which emphasizes stewardship of the natural environment.
