Almost 13 years ago, the Dumagats left the mountains to fight for their claim over their ancestral land which was then threatened by the construction of the Laiban Dam. They marched from the mountains to Manila to defend their land ownership, claiming victory in the end.
However, another proposed dam funded by China and backed by the Duterte administration threatens the Sierra Madre mountain range where the Dumagat-Remontados reside.
Last May 15, Sunday, source reports bombings by China in the mountain range, following the announcement of the Kaliwa dam’s continued construction.
The construction of the Kaliwa dam is a 12.2 billion-peso project under the Build, Build, Build Program of the Duterte administration. The construction of the dam will allegedly result in Metro Manila’s better water security because it will supplement the Angat dam.
However, the said project will also displace more than 5,000 indigenous people, as well as pose a significant danger to the environment of the Sierra Madre mountains.
According to Engineer Ryan James Ayson, the project manager from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), the construction of the dam will push through this June 2022and should finish by August 2026.
Build, Build, Build
Through a bilateral loan agreement, China will finance the construction of the Kaliwa Dam. A staggering amount of 10.37 billion pesos will be shouldered by China. This amount will be running on a high yearly interest of 2%, based on the signed loan agreement.
Duterte fully supports the project, even going as far as saying that he will use “extraordinary powers” to see the project push through. In an interview in 2019, he expressed his support and insisted that environmental violations were not enough of a reason to delay the project that could provide a new source of water.
“It might create some danger or damage, but that is not my concern,” he stated.
The failure to meet China’s terms in returning the money could result in the Philippines surrendering its own assets and resources.
“Ultimately, this loan and the project consequently places our sovereignty at an alarming risk and compromises our constitutional rights,” stated Haribon Foundation.
More than its economic pitfalls as the Duterte administration entered into a onerous loan agreement with the Chinese government, the construction of the Kaliwa Dam poses environmental destruction and IP community displacement.
The role of Sierra Madre
Known as the “backbone of Luzon”, the Sierra Madre mountain range has acted as a natural shield against raging storms. In September 2018, super typhoon Ompong’s wind slowed down to 160 kilometers per hour from its actual speed of 220 kph after encountering the mountain range.
According to Haribon Foundation, an environmental group, the forests of the mountain range are effective in lessening typhoon wind speeds. It acts as the country’s natural barrier.
“Since the Sierra Madre has a large surface area with many slopes and curves, it can help break the eye of the cyclone resulting in a slower wind speed,” the foundation stated.
Apart from this, the Sierra Madre is also home to threatened wildlife such as the Philippine Eagle, the Philippine Brown Deer, and restricted-range birds of the Luzon Endemic Bird Area. The Sierra Madre is also home to diverse plant life.
The Kaliwa Dam falls within the vicinity of the Kaliwa Watershed, a declared forest reserve, national park, and wildlife sanctuary. At least 126 species, including those threatened and endangered, will lose their habitat if the construction pushes through. 300 hectares of the Sierra Madre forests will be permanently flooded, and approximately 12,147 hectares of residual forests where endemic and threatened or endangered plant life are situated will also be gravely affected.
“It cannot be overemphasized that the proposed Kaliwa Dam will drive countless species of birds, plants and animals into extinction — all of which are woven together into one intricate web of life,” stated Haribon Chief Operating Officer, Maria Belinda de la Paz.
Home of the Dumagat-Remontado
The location of the Kaliwa dam falls within the ancestral domain of the Dumagat-Remontados. 5,000 of them are situated in the area and approximately 300 of them would be directly affected by the construction.
Under Republic Act No. 8371, or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997, for the construction to commence, there is a need to secure the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of the indigenous peoples. However, the project has failed to secure this.
In January, community leaders complained that there is railroading in the negotiations of a memorandum of agreement. This has caused the IPs to be less knowledgeable on the matter at hand, particularly those who are opposed to the construction.
“Ang aming agenda sana ay ibaba sa mga komunidad ang draft ng MOA, pag-aralan ng lahat ng kasapi ng bawat komunidad at gagawan ng resolusyon kung ito ay pinapayagan o hindi,” said Dumagat leader, Conchita Calzado.
Engineer Ayson insisted that he is not aware of the railroading and he is unsure of the source of the allegation.
Under the presumptive Marcos administration
In November 2021, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. vowed to continue the Build, Build, Build project of the Duterte administration.
“Ating pina-plano at iniisip kung paano ipapaahon ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas, kung paano ipagpapatuloy ang ginawa ni President Rodrigo Duterte na ‘Build, Build, Build’ na palalakihin pa natin at pagbubutihin,” he stated.
It took 118 years for the country’s debt to grow from P20 million in 1898 to P6.1 trillion in 2016. The Duterte administration inflated the Philippine debt from P6.1 trillion to P13.42 trillion in his six-year term.
The country’s outstanding debt stands at 12.68 trillion by the end of March 2022 and is expected to escalate even larger by the end of Duterte’s term.
Initially backed by president Duterte, the destructive project is assumed to be continued by presumptive president Bongbong Marcos, Jr. who has already been shown support by China president Xi Jin Ping. Environmental advocates and critics likewise have raised concerns over sustained and worsened subservience of the Philippine government to China.
“There is no justice in quenching the thirst for water if it is at the expense of destroying communities…Water is a human right and every Filipino deserves access to clean and adequate water supply. However, if creation of new dams causes more problems than solutions, we urge the government to seriously exhaust viable alternatives,” stated CHR Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana.
Featured image by: @maykamaykaba on Twitter
