Name: Banania, Anh C.

Date: 01 - 04 - 2023
Grade and Section: HUMSS 11 - Descartes Teacher: Ma’am Julie Somontina

Topic: Kaliwa Dam

Issue: The construction of the Kaliwa Dam has several consequences, such will affect the
ancestral domains and ruining the homes of thousands of species in the Sierra Madre.

Thesis Statement: Due to the increasing demand for water supply in Metro Manila, the
Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System or MWSS is proposing the construction of the
Kaliwa Dam, which will destroy the Sierra Madre, the habitat of different species and will cause
harm to the indigenous people. As a Filipino youth who values culture and nature, I oppose the
construction of the Kaliwa Dam, and rather I support alternative solutions.

Title of the position paper: Kaliwa Dam; A Poisoned Apple

Kaliwa Dam; A Poisoned Apple

The Kaliwa Dam project is part of the New Centennial Water Source Program of the
Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System that aims to ensure water security and reduce
reliance on the Angat Dam, which according to the National Water Resources Board, will not be
able to supply enough water to fulfill the needs of the Filipino people in the following years.
Kaliwa Dam is said to be the most “feasible” solution for the water crisis experienced in Metro
Manila and its neighboring provinces. The project’s construction will cost approximately 12.2
billion pesos, and the debt will be paid by all Filipinos including those living outside Metro
Manila. It could be an opportunity for those living in Metro Manila, however, despite the claims
that it could be a great solution, pushing it through would cause grave problems to the
environment and worse, to the country. On the report published by the Haribon Foundation, a
nature conservation organization in the Philippines, the Kaliwa Dam project poses a threat to the
Sierra Madre mountain range's ecological systems and rich biodiversity. Based on their
calculations, the dam's construction could result in the extinction of at least three critically
endangered species, 31 endangered species, and 240 vulnerable species. This project will put
every Filipino’s life at stake because the Sierra Madre helps prevent floods and weaken super
typhoons that could possibly cause massive destruction to the country. This mountain also serves
as the primary source of Filipino tribes including 5,000 Dumagat-Remontados. It becomes part
of their identity, culture, and livelihood. Preserving the Sierra Madre should be the priority of
our government as it serves different functions in our lives. Waste management would also be an
issue because the materials that will be used to build the dam could end up being improperly
disposed of. Furthermore, this project also goes against legal processes and the Philippine
Constitution. According to Brigada (2019), indigenous groups were not consulted regarding the
creation of the dam, this violated the Republic Act 8371 which states that the ancestral lands of
the indigenous group only belong to them unless the government has a project and they will give
them consent in using the ancestral lands. Thus, this project should have been considered illegal.
Additionally, this Kaliwa Dam will make the Philippines sink into debt, the funds obtained for
this project are a loan to China, which will add to the country's growing debt, causing the country
to risk its assets and resources making Filipinos suffer a great deal. These are just a few of the
numerous reasons why the Kaliwa Dam project should be abolished. And because of this, I
believed that the Kaliwa Dam is not a solution at all rather I see it as a problem that will cause
lifetime suffering to us and the next generations.

The Kaliwa Dam project could cause severe damage to the country environmentally,
economically, and socially. As per the reasons I stated above, this project should be completely
terminated. I oppose this project as I believe that this is not worth risking our environment, our
country’s economy, and Filipino culture. On the other hand, once this project is completed, it will
have the capacity to provide 600 million liters per day of raw water that will relieve pressure on
the Angat dam, which currently supplies 97 percent of raw water to Metro Manila and nearby
towns in Cavite and Rizal for over 60 years. It could reduce the strain on the
Angat-Ipo-La-Mesa water system and ensure water supply during El Niño. Do these pros
outweigh the cons? For me, it is still a no. It is not a rational choice to put everything, every life
in danger just to solve the water crisis in Metro Manila in which the primary cause is the growing
population fostering demand that outweighs the water supply. I disagree with this project because
it is not a win-win situation, it will only lead to loss as it costs more than the benefits it could
give. Kaliwa Dam is like a poisoned apple, once our government bites into it, it could be the end
for every Filipino.

Abolishing the Kaliwa Dam project will retain the long and impenetrable walls of the Sierra
Madre which will continue to serve its crucial role, the animals will continue to multiply and
enjoy their habitat, and the indigenous people will continue to have their identity and livelihood.
It will also prevent the Philippines to have another loan that will be paid off by its citizens.
Moreover, the country will gain more if the government will not push through with this project,
however, recently the MWSS stated that the Dumagat tribe already agreed in constructing the
Kaliwa Dam even though the tribe’s leaders refuted the statement saying that the NCIP and
MWSS told them that they were just only listing crops. I believe that the government should
support alternative solutions for the water crisis and not insist on building the dam. It does not
have to be this expensive, environmentally destructive, and harmful project. The government
could do a more practical solution like repairing and improving the existing dams. In addition,
conserving forests in existing watersheds such as Angat and La Mesa could also be an option
because it is not only more cost-effective but will also ensure continued water supply for Metro
Manila and neighboring provinces for years to come. Lastly, since the Philippines is a
modernizing country, we could invest in exploring and studying, and applying new technologies
to discover possible solutions like recycling water. To sum it all up, Kaliwa Dam is not the only
option left, we could always have options that are not that risky. Kaliwa Dam should not be seen
as the most “feasible” solution, hence we should stand against it as it violates different aspects
and it could harm everything and every life.

https://emb.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Kaliwa-Dam_Executive-Summary.pdf
https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/miriam-college/accountancy/kaliwa-dam-tcw/10026688
https://youtu.be/Tl7fGqER1sI
https://haribon.org.ph/stop-kaliwa-dam/