Photo by Kent Matthew Te

The Ateneo de Davao University welcomed officials and speakers from various environmental organizations to discuss the importance of the preservation and protection of water in the Philippines in the Right to Water Forum yesterday, Sept. 7.

Greenpeace, Habitat for Humanity, and Apo Agua Corporation are some of the major groups which attended the event.

Representatives from the Davao City Water District were also in attendance.

Advocates for the conservation of the water resources shared their concern with its depletion due to mining and the contamination of the bodies of water.

The panellists also discussed the feasibility of the Tamugan River as a new source of water for Davao City.

Experts claim that this new source will decrease the people’s dependency on ground water and reduce costs in the process.

One of the speakers, Engineer Ronald Munoz, shared his thoughts during the event.

“We are working to tap a new water supply so that by 2017, the costs will be reduced from P17 per cubic liter to just P12. This will have a big impact on the lives of all Dabawenyos.”