UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

Summer is upon us and with it comes the usual complaint: “Walang tubig!” Our water authorities have imposed water rationing once more, with the threat of longer periods of dry taps due to the rapidly declining water levels at the La Mesa and Angat Dams.
Construction of the Kaliwa River Dam has been proposed as the solution to our perennial water woes, and the project seems to be proceeding as we speak. But has there been proper consideration for habitat loss, such as what will happen when the Kaliwa Dam is constructed, which will cause the loss of endemic and indigenous species, both plant and animal?
The DENR has issued an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for it in 2019, which enabled the approval of the funding of $238.3 million loan from the Export-Import Bank of China. Ironically it comes with a higher interest rate (two percent) than that proposed by Japan (1.25 percent).
If completed, the Kaliwa Dam project will submerge about 300 hectares of the Sierra Madre protected forest reserve, which is home to at least 201 species of mammals, 556 species of birds, more than 85 species of amphibians, and 252 species of reptiles, half of them endemic and many threatened. And to think we still have to discover many species that are hidden in these areas!
An iconic plant that will be endangered is the Rafflesia manillana, so-called corpse flower (due to its rotting-flesh odor), the lauan (Philippine mahogany) and kalantas timber trees, also in the mahogany family, all of which will face possible extinction in the area once flooded.
The Philippine monkey-eating eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) will also face a dire future, since the Sierra Madre is one of their last habitat strongholds. The impending ecological disaster will impact the indigenous Dumagat-Remontados, who have been granted ancestral domain titles covering 188,305 hectares in the Sierra Madre. They face not only the loss of residence and livelihood but that  of 11  sites held sacred by 12 communities as well. So why does the government persist in pushing through with this project? Granted, the people of Metro Manila deserve to have potable water for their daily needs. Must it be at such a high cost both to the environment and the indigenous peoples, not to mention the flooding of lowland villages in Infanta, Quezon? Have we forgotten the disastrous flash flood of 2004, which killed a thousand and caused millions of property losses?
Are there alternatives to the Kaliwa Dam project? Actually, many. First is to instill the concept of proper water management in the 13 million Metro Manila residents. Many of our less fortunate citizens are actually the most frugal with water use, if they have any at all. It’s the commercial sector that should think about conserving water, since they use the most.
Second, harvest rainwater which, instead of flooding our streets, will become the source for many water uses: flushing toilets, washing cars, watering gardens, etc. Metro Manila has an average of 2,061 mm of rainfall a year. Instead of letting it drain into Manila Bay, save a portion of it in cisterns. Save the potable water for sanitation purposes.
Third, reduce the loss from pipe leaks, which is a big percentage of the 4,000 MLD (million liters per day) supplied by the Angat, La Mesa, and Ipo Dams. This will require both Maynilad and Manila Water to plug the leaks in their distribution systems. The added benefit will be less contamination of our water pipes by sewage.
Fourth, speaking of sewage, why not adopt wastewater-treatment technology to convert sewage to fresh, potable water. We’ve seen Singapore’s prime minister drink a glass of water from their wastewater treatment plant output. It’s safe and it’s very doable. It will reduce water pollution as well. Fifth is the rehabilitation of the Pasig-Laguna River Basin (cost: ₱13 billion), which can be a source of potable water for the metropolis.
Sixth, why not consider desalination plants? We are surrounded on all sides by the sea, an unlimited source of water. The technology is available. And once the new fluorine nanostructure technology is commercialized, it will be 2,400 times faster and much more energy-efficient than current desalination methods.
Lastly, instead of drowning our forests, let us protect them as our watersheds that hold rainwater to protect us from flooding and to replenish our rapidly depleting aquifers.
Surely all these efforts will not exceed the ₱12.868 billion that the Kaliwa Dam will cost, not to mention the high interest rate and the huge environmental and indigenous peoples’ costs that the dam will cause.
Or are there other reasons for doggedly pushing through with the Kaliwa River Dam project? Is it the windfall expected by certain people pushing for this project? Is it to ingratiate them to China? There must be millions, if not billions, of reasons. Draw your own conclusions.