A MANAGEMENT plan for the Panigan-Tamugan watershed, which is being funded by Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc., is in the works and expected to be released by next year. “What we are doing right now is do a baseline study on what’s there in Panigan-Tamugan watershed… plantations, what type of residents are there, if there are pineapple or banana plantations, are they using harmful pesticides, so that we can better asses on what’s going to the river,” said Apo Agua General Manager Cirilo C. Almario III. He added that they are also in the process of selecting consultants for the study. Apo Agua, a joint venture between Aboitiz Equity Ventures and J.V. Angeles Construction Corp., is constructing a P12.6 billion bulk water project with Tamugan River as source. The Panigan-Tamugan Integrated Watershed Management Plan is being undertaken in partnership with the Davao City Watershed Management Council (WMC) and distributor Davao City Water District (DCWD). WMC directed Apo Agua to undertake the study. Apo Agua broke ground for the bulk water project in November last year and is scheduled to start laying the pipeline network by October. The company is contracted by DCWD to deliver 300 million liters of water per day from the facility, which is expected to be operational by 2021. — Maya M. Padillo

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