Balde vs Davao City‘s bulk water project

With El Niño threatening the potable water supply, the government faces a specter we have seen many times. And it reveals how leadership addresses crises — or fails to.

The Philippines is vulnerable to weather shifts, but there is no coherent mitigation plan. The Marcos administration’s response: balde.

At first, I thought President Bongbong Marcos was joking when he told Filipinos to catch rain with a bucket. Until Leni Robredo said, “It makes sense.”

PBBM became the target of ridicule, but he doubled down, demonstrating how rainwater can be made potable with a strainer, then drinking it. Crackpots online joked that they were watching for an ambulance from Malacañang to St. Luke’s for severe diarrhea.

Contrast that with how Davao City secured its water future.

The story centers on the Davao City Water District (DCWD) and the city government under then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, which planned 15 years ahead for a growing population and economy.

Long before pipes were laid, the DCWD reforested Mt. Tipolog — which recharges the Tamugan and Panigan rivers — and the Talomo watershed, which recharges the aquifers in Dumoy.

This was the “Adopt-a-Tree” program, conducted with the indigenous tribes, who were encouraged to shift from vegetables to agroforestry — coffee, cacao, rubber — to prevent erosion and flash floods.

DCWD chairman Ed Bangayan secured water rights over the twin rivers. The surface water was targeted for what is now the Bulk Water Project.

In 2014, DCWD went through the NEDA PPP scheme and published the BWP description in national dailies to invite partners. J.V. Angeles Construction Corp. won, but NEDA required a financially capable partner given the P12.5-billion cost. JVACC brought in Aboitiz Equity Ventures, forming Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc.

In 2015, DCWD and Apo Agua signed the Joint Venture Agreement at Marco Polo Hotel, with Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as witness.

Part I, by Apo Agua, cost P10 billion: a weir in Tawantawan, a diversion channel, a desilting complex, a catchment in Gumalang, a treatment plant and laboratory, plus a 2.4-megawatt hydro plant to power it. Apo Agua also secured all rights-of-way. Groundbreaking was on 26 November 2018, led by President Duterte.

Part II, by DCWD, cost P2.5 billion: reservoirs and the laying of distribution pipes to seven new barangays, mostly in District 2, replacing old, small pipes.

From planning to full operation, the financial and construction burden was borne solely by Apo Agua and DCWD.

Not a single centavo came from the national government. DCWD used internal funds and a bank loan that did not even require collateral.

Apo Agua started delivery on 1 December 2023 for systems integration. Full commercial operations began on 14 February 2024.

Today, the Bulk Water Project delivers 300 million liters per day (mld). That is only 30 percent of the volume allowed from Tamugan-Panigan. DCWD still draws 400 mld from more than 70 wells in its aquifers. It is an alternative source for future generations.

So let us stop the shameless claim that this is a Marcos legacy for Davao City. It is not. From conception to inception, the Marcos administration had no role.

The only role Marcos had was at the ceremonial ribbon-cutting in 2024, before the UniTeam went sour, which the Aboitizes granted him as they navigated their Malacañang connection.

Today, with El Niño looming, PBBM’s legacy is: buy a balde.

Some enviously ask, “Bakit lahat nasa Davao: Pabahay sa Davao, Patubig sa Davao, Tulay sa Davao, E-Bus sa Davao?” (Why was everything given to Davao? Housing, water, bridges, e-buses in Davao?)

Do not buy that crap. Pabahay was a project of then Mayor Sara Duterte. Patubig was DCWD-Apo Agua’s. Tulay (Bucana Bridge) was a gift from China. E-Bus (Yutong buses) is the bus modernization program started by Mayor Sara and pursued by Mayor Baste Duterte — 10 e-buses now giving free rides, plus 20 more in December, all paid for by the city government, not Malacañang.

All accomplished with nary an iota of assistance from the Marcos administration — the same administration that maligns Davao as the country’s most dangerous city.

This is clearer than rainwater collected in a balde from the roof eaves.