Senator听files resolution for Kaliwa Dam project suspension听
OPPOSITION听SENATOR听Leila M. de Lima听called for a suspension of听all construction activities on the China-funded Kaliwa Dam project, citing the Commission on听Audit (CoA) report and听Senate investigations听indicating听irregularities听in implementation.听听听
Ms. De Lima filed Resolution No. 909听on听Thursday听saying听all legal prerequisites and issues must听first听be settled before the project proceeds.听听
鈥淕overnment remains hell-bent to push forward with the project, despite credible claims that the social, cultural, environmental, and economic costs of the Kaliwa Dam Project outweigh its purported benefits,鈥澨齭aid Ms. De Lima in a statement on Sunday.听听
鈥淭here is a need to determine once and for all the viability of the Kaliwa Dam Project and the impacts it will have on its primary stakeholders, particularly the local indigenous population,鈥澨齭he added.听听
She cited a听Senate Committee on Cultural Communities听report听saying听that听鈥渓aws protecting indigenous peoples鈥櫶齬ights were not complied within the course of implementing the project.鈥澨听
CoA, in its听2020 audit report,听said the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS)听has听been proceeding with the project without proper documentation such as a听memorandum of agreement with local government units for the project鈥檚 social development program, a copy of the approved reforestation program, and听the听creation of an environmental unit upon receipt of the听environmental compliance certificate.听听
In a statement on Sept. 16, MWSS said they are continuously working on听the environmental听requirements听and听actual听construction听has yet听to begin for the P12.2-billion project听that will serve as a water supply source to the capital Metro Manila.听听听
鈥淲ith the controversies surrounding the Kaliwa Dam project, there is also a need to explore alternatives to address water security, so that we may not only protect the rights of ICCs听(indigenous cultural communities)听or IPs听(indigenous听people)听to their ancestral lands but also maintain the beauty and biodiversity of our forests and mountainous regions,鈥澨齭he听said.听听听
In June this year, MWSS said tunnel听excavation work on the听dam is expected to start by December with the arrival听in July听of a boring machine.听鈥斕鼳lyssa Nicole O. Tan听
