JOINING the people’s outrage against the proposed Laiban Dam project, Catholic bishops collectively called on government to put forward the common good above all else by preserving the integrity of creation.
In a letter sent to President Macapagal-Arroyo, prelates led by Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales called on the government to scrap the contentious Laiban dam project citing ethical and legal considerations.
Other signatories to the letter are NASSA chairman and Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Communications and Mass Media Chairman and Auxiliary Bishop Bernardino Cortez, Pasig Bishop Francisco San Diego, Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias, Parañaque Bishop Jesse Mercado and Infanta Bishop-Emeritus Julio Xavier Labayen.
The 113-meter Laiban Dam project if realized will engulf around 28,000 hectares of “biodiverse-rich-forest-ecosystem,” including some 3,000 hectares of mangrove fish sanctuary and farm irrigation in the towns of Gen. Nakar, Real and Infanta.
Aside from destroying the rich ecosystems of the area, the dam will also displace several thousands of families, especially the indigenous communities of Dumagats and Remontados living within the Kaliwa watershed area.
The dam also sits on top of a major seismic fault line which could be dangerous in an earthquake of great magnitude.
“What maybe perceived as common good of the present generation may turn out to be a cause of suffering of the next,” the bishops stated in their letter.
“Even with the best intention of providing more water to the people can spark protests when it ignores and violates framework sustainable for development and violates ethical and legal procedures considerations,” they added.
The project ran contrary to existing laws such as Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System, the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act (NIPAS), the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (Wildlife Protection Act), E.O. 33, and the Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA).
The government wanted to revive the Laiban Dam in view of an alleged impending water shortage that could hit Manila and environs in any eventuality.
But in a public report, both Maynilad and Manila Water declared that their respective systems losses of 69% and 20% were mainly due to leakage problem, thus disproving the water shortage claim.
The bishops argued that instead of pushing with the project the government should consider rehabilitating the Wawa Dam which has supplied Metro Manila with water for 60 years.
“With a watershed area of 27,980 hectares, it is capable of continuously discharging millions of liters of fresh water daily,” they said.
For their part, the public and various organizations, together with the Catholic Church have taken up the cause, eyeing the move of government with suspicion.
A group of indigenous peoples, farmers, women rural workers, youth and religious groups are currently on a 148-km protest march from Gen. Nakar to Manila. The walk which began Nov. 4, and ends on Nov. 12 will stop at Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System (MWSS) and finally at Malacañang to urge government to stop the project.
The construction of the dam is a joint project of MWSS and San Miguel Corporation (SMC).
“In these trying times when uniting the people is more urgent any project that can be a cause of suspicion and division should be avoided,” said the bishops.
The prelates further urged the government and its agencies to focus and bring solutions on issues like “leakage problems of Maynilad and Manila Water; declaring Marikina Watershed Reservation as Protected Area under the NIPAS Law; and expediting reforestation efforts in Marikina watershed to increase water capacity, provide carbon sink and mitigate impacts of global warming and climate change.”
The MWSS must also pursue its primary mandate of serving the people, putting above all the common good while working closely with environmental groups, LGUs, NGOs and POs for the sustainable development of the people, the bishops said.
No comments:
Post a Comment