LAND USE CHANGE OF URBAN

WETLANDS IN DAVAO CITY

EnP. Lemuel Manalo, MSERM
 Introduction

• Wetlands provide
many societal benefits: food and habitat for fish and wildlife;
water quality improvement; flood storage; shoreline erosion
control; economically beneficial natural products for human use;
and opportunities for recreation, education and research (US-
EPA, 2014).

• Yet wetlands are among the most threatened ecosystems

worldwide (Mitsch & Gosselink 2007), with more than half of the
world’s wetlands having been lost during the past two centuries
due to drainage, conversion to cropland or urban expansion
(Dugan 1993).
 Reclamation of a wetland pond behind Gaisano Grand, Buhangin

• In the Philippines, several wetlands are protected by the Expanded

National Integrated Protected Areas System (E-NIPAS) Act of 2018.
Wetlands within urbanized cities, do not have ecological protection
measures, which can be owned privately leading to land development and
reclamation. Problem
• In Davao City, delineation and land-use limitations for wetland areas such
ponds and marshes are not included in the Davao City’s Comprehensive
Land Use Plan (CLUP) and Zoning Ordinance of 2011-2022.
Objectives

The study aimed to know the historical land-use changes and the current situation of urban
wetlands in Davao City. Specifically, the study sought to address the following questions:

1. What is the history of Davao City's natural landscape, wetlands, and early settlement?

2. What is the assessment of urban wetlands following;

a) Geographic Locations and extents;
b) Activities and uses;
c) Loss of wetland
d) Land-use changes; and
e) Environmental and settlement issues?

3. Is there a significant decrease in wetland areas comparing past and present situations?

4. What recommendations can be made towards the sustainable management of wetlands?

 Methodology

• This research follows a Comparative-Historical design

and approach comparing past and present urban
environments, discussing land-use changes and
transformation of wetlands over different time periods.

• The study opted mainly on mapping processes such as

Georeferencing, Georectifying and Image Overlaying
historical maps.

• Repeated measures ANOVA was the main geo-statistical

treatment to determine wetland loss significance.

Sample on georectification of a 1943 map through GIS software

1879 Plano del Rio De Davao

• Probably the first map

made by the Spaniards
in 1879. Davao River
was once called
"Tagalook“. The early
settlement along the
river, depicts the
compact pueblos called
“ Nuevo Vergara" which
currently is part of the
Poblacion today.
1935 Aerial Photo of Poblacion & Sta.Ana, Davao Town

Davao City settled in

an area with large
network of riverine
and estuarine
wetlands connected
by creeks and
waterways.

Agdao Creek’s swamps

and marsh plains
divides the town proper
from the Sta. Ana Port
creating a large buffer
area of these
settlements.
1944 City of Davao Map (AGS Terrain Study)

Between the shore and the town there is

an area of swamp and creeks. Men
wading through this swamp would sink to
their waists. Three elevated roads cuts
across these swamps. – Allied
Geographical Section, 1945
Marshes and swamps surround Sta. Ana Port. The identified wetland measures 12.45 hectares
of wetlands, specifically tidal swamps and tidal flats (digitized in blue).
Georectification of a 1943 Davao City Map through Google 3D Buildings.
Digitized Map of Wetland Loss in Davao River

Mangrove swamps,
brushlands, tidal swamps
and salt marshes
measures 138.05
hectares in 1944.

Davao River’s channel

pass through the areas
that are currently Land
Transportation Office and
Felcris Centrale.
• An Island at Bucana area called “Isla
Bolton” was also observed with
mangrove forest classification as
depicted from the map.

• According to Japanese author Sadao

Komikaya described Isla Bolton, “this
island was the haven of many alligators
long time ago”.

• In November 7, 1936, employees of the

Davao Commercial and Iceplant caught a
large crocodile at Davao River. Currently
the area refers to Kawayanan, beside
Bolton Bridge.
 Image Overlay showing wetlands at Ipil Airfield (1935)

The focused geo-referencing at Ipil depicts 22.88 hectares of wetlands such

as tidal marshes and swamps (digitized in blue).
 1935 Aerial Photo of Ipil Airfield & 2021 Land Satellite Photo of R.Castillo

88-year old Elena Europa said Ipil beach was known to be a good and clean
beach, a recreational area of the citizens in the 1960s, “Diha muadto mga
Dabawenyo sauna, ginali-guan na sauna”.
 Wetland Loss from 1944, 2002 to 2021 (in hectares)

Wetland extents from 1944 to 2021 has a 95 % decrease (77 years). 1944 to 2002 has an 82.08%
decrease in 58 years. Comparing 2002 and 2021, 71.07% decrease in 19 years.
In Agdao and
Cabaguio areas
(former Ipil);

High Density
Residential use
consist the majority
at 47.6%.

Major Commercial
comprises at 30.5%.
Conclusion

It was estimated to have a 95% loss

of wetlands through statistical
treatments, comparing the extents
measured from 1944 to 2021, the
decrease of wetland areas is highly
significant.

Due to land use mismanagement and

allowing informal settlement, past
wetlands were converted to highly
built areas, mainly high-density
residential (51.6%) and commercial
(34%) land uses.
 Recommendations
• There is a need to provide policy measures in land use planning and management to preserve
existing and fragments of wetlands in the city.
• The CLUP guidebook for cities and municipalities for planning, which is part of the training and
services of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) should
have already included the wetlands as part of the land use categories with zoning regulations.

• The Davao City Coastal Road project from Bago Gallera-Talomo-Matina Aplaya-Bucana-
Boulevard-Agdao-Azuela Cove which includes reclaimed roads, bridges, and improved
drainages, is an excellent opportunity to rehabilitate wetland loss as analyzed in this study. Since
the coastal road is constructed few meters from the coastline, these forms gaps and spaces from
the beaches.
• A Drainage Master Plan of the city should be crafted and passed urgently. Sustainable Urban
Drainage System (SUDS) must be integrated in all infrastructure development of the plan.
• Further studies on wetland management is needed such as simulation studies on Flood
Inundation, Storage and Capture and Hydrologic and Geomorphological Analyses are vital
components for disaster reduction and drainage management.
“We need to deeply understand the
mistakes of the past in order for us to
plan a better & sustainable future”.