Time to go it alone

One of the classic ironies of our political history is when the national leadership treats a local government like a vestigial unit and a threat to its own existence. This is exemplified by Malacañang spokesperson Claire Castro’s remark that Davao should attend to its flooding instead of politics.

Malacañang, of course, is not lacking in its herd of barking dogs who label themselves content creators, analysts and vloggers. Not to be outdone is putschist ex-Senator Antonio Trillanes, who describes Davao City as the most dangerous city in the country.

But Davao City has gotten used to these black propagandists. Vice President Sara Duterte aptly described their trade as toxic politics. The toxicity has brought the country to an economic meltdown. In an interview on Cesar Chavez’s “Executive Session” on DZRH, former Finance Secretary Gary Teves warned that the Philippine economy was sliding into stagflation — slow growth, high inflation and fiscal pressure.

Davao City, under the Duterte leadership, opted to take its own course. It does not waste time arguing that it has its share of floods.

Unlike Metro Manila and Luzon, where floods linger for days, floods in Davao occur during heavy rainfall and disappear in minutes. Lingering floods in low-lying areas have been effectively addressed by flood control infrastructure.

What is most significant today is the emergence of Davao not only as the country’s top tourist destination but also as an investment hub. The development of the city under Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte cannot be underestimated.

Shortly before leaving for The Hague to visit his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, Mayor Baste announced the city would start exporting 30,000 coconuts, or buko, to Liberia. This month, Davao is exporting several tons of durian to China. Oman has made an initial order for Davao durian, too. The city just shipped Cardava bananas to New Zealand and Hong Kong now wants a share.

This agricultural synergy has stirred unprecedented growth. Former Davao de Oro Governor Arturo “Chiongkee” Uy, now retired from politics, leads in the propagation of at least 15 premium durian cultivars procured from Malaysia — Musang King, Blackthorn and Tupai King, the most expensive variety in Malaysia. The governor, fondly called Papa Gov, targets 30,000 fully fruit-bearing trees by 2028. His friends now call him the Durian King.

This productive synergy has earned international interest. Among recent visitors to Davao was the US ambassador.

The Davao International Airport is now a destination for Qatar Airways, Vietnam Airlines, and Singapore Airlines, with direct flights to Hong Kong and China. Japan is mulling a direct flight to Davao, once known as “Little Tokyo.” Seaports in the region are regular destinations of foreign ships loading Cavendish bananas and pineapples for China, Japan and the Middle East. Davao is the world’s second-largest producer of Cavendish bananas.

So there. That’s Davao City and the Davao Region in a capsule.

While President Marcos warns the nation of El Niño and tells everyone to buy a balde to save rainwater to drink, the city leadership asks constituents to conserve water and protect its watersheds, which serve as recharge areas for rivers and aquifers.

Today, almost nightly, copious rain falls, especially in watershed areas, recharging and sustaining a daily available supply of 300 million liters per day (MLD) of treated surface water from Tamugan and Panigan and 400 MLD from production wells.

For now, the Davao City Water District utilizes just about 300 MLD. The city has an ordinance requiring homeowners to have water tanks to catch rainwater for washing and watering plants, but not for drinking. Not a balde.

The DCWD has renewed its libreng tubig program, wherein those who consume five cubic meters or less in October, November and December get zero billing — its way of encouraging conservation.

A stagnation is upon us. It tells us that the national leadership has run out of bright ideas beyond its genius of a balde to address the dry spell.

It’s time to go it alone. Good luck!