Gerard Ghesquiere of Belgium, Lothar Tischer of Germany and Stacey Baird of the United States, now all long-term residents of Ma-a, participate with the Brgy Ma-a Federation of Homeowner Associations and join with Barangay 76-A and many others organizations and individuals in tribute to the protection of Mother Nature and to those who have sacrificed for volunteerism.
The Federation was also invited to give a short presentation on its co-objectives and advocacy for human safety in Responsible Development along with the preservation of the natural beauty and contribution to reduction of Global Warming and Climate Change offered by Shrine Hill.Stacey Baird, stand-in for Norma Javellana, president of the Federation who was called to confer about environmental matters with the SP at the last minute, told the appreciative audience of the Oxygen Production, CO2 reduction, protection of watershed, reduction of Davao River siltation that an untouched Shrine Hill offered the people of Davao City.
"Equally important," he said was the "immediate protection of long time residents all around the foot of the hill endangered by subdivision development above them."
"Responsible Development is development within or outside a natural habitat of that protects and respects the quality of life and safety of potentially affected nearby residents," he said.
"The larger part of Shrine Hill is a steeply sloped, undermined with limestone sinkholes, caves, springs and streams as well as being covered with the sandy soils of ancient sea beds uplifted by tectonic action in the millenniums past that make it far less than ideal for major subdivision development. The risks are simply too great.
"When the risks to occupants and those below are coupled with the loss to the people of Davao of its environmental benefits, of its trees, ground cover and protection of the watershed, it is far better to make as much of it a natural park as possible.
"Shrine Hill is Davao's major natural landmark. It is the first thing that tourist from all over the Philippines and the world see as they prepare to land in our city. Shrine Hill represents our history and our future as a wonderful place to visit, shop, invest and live in. It is the emerald jewel of Davao City. It must be preserved.
"We must act now by contacting our elected representatives, the media and our continued efforts with organizations such as those here today."
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