Recio, Kimberly C.

April 11, 2019

CE-4205

Kaliwa Dam Project

Dams are important because they provide water for domestic, industry, recreation and irrigation
purposes. Students are introduced to the concept of a dam and its potential benefits. Taking advantage of
the benefits the dams such as overuse and not conserving of water, enough water supply insufficient to fill
high demand resulted in water scarcity.

One of the example is the water supply crisis that hit Metro Manila and Rizal. It has been an
issue that is yet to be resolved. Since water services were suddenly cut off last March 7, people had long
been begging for immediate action from Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and
water concessionaires. Metro Manila is serviced by two private companies for its water needs, Manila
Water (east zone) and Maynilad (west zone). Both companies draw water from the Angat Dam in
Norzaragay, Bulacan, which provides around 96% of the entire demand of Metro Manila. From Angat
Dam, water flows through Ipo Dam, then La Mesa Dam. Because of the low water level of La Mesa Dam,
water can no longer reach the gates of the aqueducts. Manila Water said it can no longer keep up with the
demand. Manila Water’s La Mesa Dam reached its lowest level in 12 years recently. This means the
company can no longer rely on their emergency supply of rain water collected from the La Mesa
Watershed. Manila’s water is supplied itself by three dams and thus having looming water crisis and yet
another dam was proposed. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said last March 13 that the water
crisis in Metro Manila could have been avoided if past administrations had pushed for the construction of
the Kaliwa Dam. Others said that the shortage was orchestrated to justify the construction of the China-
funded Kaliwa Dam in Quezon Province

Metro Manila’s water demand is projected to increase steadily in the coming years. It is sad that
the Kaliwa Dam project stems from the direct need to satisfy Metro Manila’s ever-increasing demand for
water. It is supposed to address the possible water shortage that Metro Manila and surrounding areas
might experience in the coming years. Once completed, it could provide an extra 600 million liters of
water per day to Metro Manila, thus securing water needs at least until around 2026. The construction of
the P12.1-billion New Centennial Water Source (NCWS)-Kaliwa Dam Project, to be built in Quezon
province has been in the pipeline for three decades. If begun soon, it is expected to be operational by 2023
and supposed to complement the Angat Dam.
 The Kaliwa Dam would cost P12.2 billion to build, with 85% set to be funded by China through
official development assistance. The remaining amount will be shouldered by the Philippine government
through the MWSS. The contract with China was formalized during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit
to Manila in 2018. According to MWSS Administrator Reynaldo Velasco, it is a done deal saying that that
President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be signing the contract on Nov. 21. The construction
of the dam was opposed by vocal sectors. A pastoral letter issued and signed by Bishop Prelate of Infanta
Bernardino C. Cortez titled “No to Kaliwa Dam, Yes to Alternative Sources of Water.” In the letter
enumerated the reasons saying that the construction of the Kaliwa Dam would be a benefit for Metro
Manilans perhaps it could be a disaster waiting to happen in which for me is true.

Construction of Kaliwa Dam project is a big no for me. According to the article that I’ve read,
environmental group Haribon Foundation said that the construction of the multibillion-peso Kaliwa Dam
Project will not only have devastating effects on people’s lives, it will also ravage the homes of thousands
of threatened wildlife species in the Sierra Madre mountain forests including the Philippine Eagle. Since
the Kaliwa Watershed Forest Reserve, where the dam would be constructed, was declared a forest reserve
through Proclamation No. 573 on June 22, the survival of the vast variety of wildlife found in this area
depends on the extensive Sierra Madre forests. It would be a great loss to our environment if this various
threatened wildlife which is found nowhere else on the planet and various plant lives which are found in
the Sierra Madre will be long gone or extinct. To ensure water security in Metro Manila, a dam cannot
deliver this alone. Despites it advantages there are more serious disadvantages which people doesn’t give
primarily attention. This scenario is unthinkable. Metro Manila’s surprise water shortage, which should
not have been a surprise at all, should have an alternative solution to the crisis even though Kaliwa Dam
is hardly the only option for them. They should consider its merely devastating consequence before its
construction. Since the proposal of Kaliwa Dam is a biodiversity threat, there is need to explore all viable
solutions apart from dam ,that will create the least adverse impact to the environment and our people.
Thinking of alternative solution, Haribon believes that the restoration and conservation of forests in
existing watersheds like Angat and La Mesa is not only more cost effective but will ensure continued
water supply for Metro Manila and nearby provinces for years to come which is in agreement to my
opinion. If the problem is the infrastructure, why not the government urges to rehabilitate existing water
reservoirs and strengthen the implementation of efficient water distribution systems and facilities instead
of proposing a dam that will lead to extinction of species? Also, people have a great role in this water
crisis. I think people need to learn how to lessen their demand for water by conserving it and taking into
consideration its uses so that its supply would last. Another economical solution is that improvement in
the services by reducing their non-revenue water lost to leakages in water pipes. Cites recycling water as
another viable answer to the issue as proposed by Haribon. Wastewater could also be treated and used for
agricultural and landscape irrigation and industrial processes, among others. The government should rely
and be thoughtful of the other alternative solution.

Another issue surrounding the dam is a loan contract with China. Kaliwa Dam project will cost
only $248 million, It is said that China-funded Kaliwa Dam are more expensive than Japanese firm's
proposal. Duterte’s chief economist confirmed talks are underway, and China is offering loans with 2-3%
interest. Japan, in contrast, is offering us loans with 0.25 to 0.75% interest. For me, China’s new loans
are expensive, uncompetitive, and corruption-prone, but why the government did not consider the
proposal of a Japanese company? Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said that we cannot
get all the loans from Japan, the processing of Japanese projects tends to be “slow”, and China’s rates are
“still much better” than commercial loans. In fact, what scares me the most is about China’s new,
‘friendly’ loans. In my point of view, Pernia just pointed out in his statement that the Philippines is
needing “friends, China is one of those we needed. One of the articles that I’ve said pointed out about
Kaliwa dam project is a dept trap. In recent years, China, in a strategy now known as “debt-trap
diplomacy” has lent billions of dollars to many poor countries worldwide, ostensibly to help finance their
infrastructure projects. But many of these countries, once unable to pay, are forced to give up their natural
resources and strategic assets as a form of collateral. This, in turn, promotes China’s economic and
political interests worldwide. One of the reasons why Kaliwa Dam project will be a disaster waiting to
happen and China’s involvement should be a concern for me. It would be a double disadvantages to us,
since natural resources would be given up if unable to pay, besides the contruction of this would lead to
enxtinction of species. The government should considered if the Filipinos are willing to pay such heacy
loans, despite the availability of cheaper ones. In addition, why we need to borrow when we don't have to
spend? One wrong move of the government and the Philippines could well be the next victim of this
devious scheme.

We all know that the government has the responsibility to protect its people from environmental
harm and provide long-term solutions to respond to the needs of all its people, not only in Metro Manila.
This Kaliwa Dam project controversy would be a test to the government against long term solution but a
threat to the biodiversity or having medium-term patches that were rolled out and can resulted in better
water services that would not harm the environment. The government should considered the feasible and
practical solution to address the scarcity of water in the country as communities would be affected by the
construction of the dam and that indigenous peoples would be displaced. The Proposal of Kaliwa Dam
project is not the only dependent solution. One single decision the government will make and that will
lead to a life of more.