5 February 2010
Laiban dam project not the solution to water shortage - Environmental groups
Sectoral and environmental groups under Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) slams the notion being pushed by Philippine government, its agencies and some private corporations that the privatization and building Laiban Dam is the answer to the looming water crisis.
"The $1 billion Laiban dam project which was first proposed 30 years is claimed to supply the future water demand in Metro Manila and nearby provinces yet failed to take-off because of so many different issues. The project is too expensive and is likely to end up as white elephant,” said Clemente Bautista of Kalikasan PNE and convenor of Network Opposed to Laiban Dam (NO to Laiban Dam).
The government has already expended around Php755 million pesos on the Laiban Dam project since 1970’s. It has been postponed by several times already by different administrations because of issues on social impacts, corruption, lack of funding, technicalities and strong local opposition. It is claimed that the Angat dam, that currently provides 97% of the metro's water supply, will not be able to meet the growing water demand and the construction of the Laiban dam is the answer to the impending problem of the water deficit by 2015.
“The supposed future water demand and shortage forecasted by the MWSS is very suspicious and technically flawed. Based on the actual production of the two private concessionaires, Maynilad and Manila Water, only 3,682 million of liters per day (MLD) were produced in 2008 which met the water needs of greater Metro Manila. Based on the concessionaires’ projection, they only need to produce around 4,450 MLD by 2015 to supply the growing water demand, much less than the projection of MWSS of 5,130 MLD. We believe this is projection has no basis and intentionally done to justify the Laiban Dam project,” explained Mr. Bautista.
Based on government data, there was only an actual average increase of 59 MLD per year from 1997-2007. In the computation of MWSS is assumes that there will be a skyrocketing increase of 274 MLD per year from now until 2015.
“They would like to time that signing of agreement between MWSS and San Miguel Bulk Water Corporation of Danding Cojuangco this March where the El Nino phenomena will reach its peak. This is also to give an impression that there is an actual water shortage which well in fact it is only temporary,” Mr. Bautista added.
MWSS stated that they will sign the Memorandum of Agreement with San Miguel Corporation for the construction of the Laiban Dam project on March 3, 2010.
"If MWSS is really concerned about the water crisis then it should be open to other alternatives which are more economical and efficient and less destructive to the environment and communities than the Laiban Project,” said Meggie Nolasco of Philippine Climate Watch Alliance (PCWA)and also a member of the NO to Laiban Dam. “However it seems bent on the Laiban dam project even with the opposition of many groups and affected communities, which brings us to question the dam's real purpose."
Several studies reveal that it is wiser to harness the existing Wawa Dam in Rodriguez Rizal than construct another dam. Both dams have the same capacity only that the Wawa dam will not displace communities, has a cheaper project cost, and has a shorter timetable than the Laiban dam.
"Another alternative is to fix the existing pipelines and address the structural problems to improve the efficiency of the water distribution," expressed Ms. Nolasco.
According to a statement of Maynilad Water Services and Manila Water Co, water distribution is at 60% and 20% respectively. If this will be reduced to a single digit alone, at least 500 MLD will be available.
"Water has become more costly and inaccessible since the government's response to the water crisis is to let profit-driven companies take control over our water resources. Privatization resulted to exorbitant water rates, poor services, massive retrenchment of water district workers and displacement of marginalized sectors in their communities," concluded Bautista.
