THE Interface Development Interventions (Idis), an environmental non-government organization (NGO) in Davao, continues to push for an ordinance requiring both public and private establishments to use permeable pavements as part of urban sustainable initiatives.
Lemuel Manalo, environmental research specialist of Idis during Connect Science, Health and Wellness press conference held at SM Lanang Food Hall Friday, May 11, said they were advocating and promoting the permeable pavement designs because they believe that this design would absorb flood waters as well as filter and trap pollutants.
The permeable pavement concept is a research project of Idis that has been presented in different proposals including in Davao and Malaysia. The project was tested in 20 establishments in Davao City and 5 establishments were selected as case studies based on the willingness of the owners.
Out of the selected establishments, there were no reported major flood cases and it was found out that it helped on managing water runoffs. The five establishments selected include Anisabel Suites, Ateneo de Davao University Botanical Garden, Davao Light Power and Co. Admin Office, Rekado Filipino Comfort Cuisine, and Toyota Davao Catitipan Workshop Stockyard.
"Many of the establishments here in Davao are using the project already and we continue to maximize this through the use of media to advocate the product and promote the design... since there's a lot of benefits like mitigation of floods, decrease on eye sore, and decreasing the urban island heat effect," Manalo said.
The study aims to attract the young architects since they have the capabilities on pursuing this kind of technology on establishments and since they are open for new ideas for the development, said Manalo.
"We are doing our largest efforts to attract them [the young architects] for this technology...We started mainstreaming this last year, there were articles posted already and we already provided data for this project in the internet," he added.
The permeable pavements that are commercially available are Permeable Concrete (PC), Concrete grid Pavers (CGP), Pervious Pavers (PP), Single-sized Aggregate (SA) and Concrete Pavement Cutouts (CC). The project is not just limited to its aesthetic benefits but can also be beneficial economically like eliminating costs for retention basins, curbs, gutters, and other water collection installations. It is also believed to lower installation costs for piping and drainage systems and to lower the life-cycle cost for its expectancy equal to the regular concrete.
Meanwhile, depending on the type, quality, and layering system, prices of pavements range from P180 to P200 for each turf to P300 to P1500 per square inclusive of turf, base compaction, and grass supply.
Attorney Mark Peñalver, policy advocacy specialist of Idis, said there are no ordinances and policies in place yet concerning the permeable pavement but there are responsive city councilors open to sponsor the proposed policy such as City Councilor Mabel Acosta. (Kent Warren H. Fugoso, FSUU Intern)