President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to settle the row between the Davao City Water District (DCWD) and power generation company Hedcor, Inc. over the use of Tamugan-Panigan River.

This was revealed by LWUA administrator Prospero Pichay during an interview aired over radio station dxDC-RMN Davao.

“The President called me in order to initiate a dialogue between Hedcor and Davao City Water District (DCWD),” Pichay said.

Pichay assured Davaoeños that the priority of his office is water for the people.

LWUA earlier passed a resolution urging the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) to overturn its earlier decision revoking DCWD’s rights to use the Tamugan River in Baguio District.

Tamugan River is also where Hedcor is planning to build its hydropower plant to boost the supply of electricity as load demand in Davao region rises.

LWUA supports the DCWD’s project dubbed Tamugan Surface Water Development Project as the solution for a possible water crisis in Davao City.

LWUA argued that NWRB failed to realize the effect of the Hedcor project on the potable water supply of Davao City.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) granted an Environmental Compliance Certificate to Hedcor on March 17, 2009.

DCWD public information officer Imelda Magsuci, in a separate interview with dxDC-RMN Davao, said Tamugan River is the last source of water for Davao.

She said the water utility is thus calling on residents to rally behind it for the preservation of the river.