Raphie’s Article

 

Blog on Laiban Dam

By Raphael R. Ramos

 

 

So what can I say about the Laiban Dam incident? What can I say about the dilemma we are actually facing? You see after reading quite a few articles on the Laiban Dam, I feel conflict within myself when I realized that the Dam is being built for the people here in Manila. That really bothers me since on one side you have the people of Metro Manila and on the other side you have the 4 villages that are going to have to be moved due to the building of the Dam. I doubt anyone can just choose which side should be sacrificed.  

 

I know that there are articles that say that if the leaking pipes as well as other means of water management are done the water supply of Manila can be extended up to 2015 or something like that. But even if it were true, it wouldn’t even be enough. A mere less than a decade is not enough respite for people under threat of water shortage. And I’ve already read an article that the water management within Manila is already being improved by the private water company, if they really thought that fixing leaky pipes would help, why are they plan to continue the construction of Laiban Dam? But still is it right to believe that we the people of Manila can sacrifice the way of life in these villages for our own sakes? To better make a decision, let’s look at how this problem came about.   This dilemma is caused by the fact that we are running out of water due to the pollution of many bodies of water making them unsuitable for use, leaking pipes and inefficient water delivery and finally a bit of over population since Manila has expanded too quickly. Maybe all these stuff are caused by our mismanagement of the water. But if so, we cannot blame just the governing bodies for this, but we must accept that each and every person that lives in Manila probably has contributed to this epic problem. Wasn’t there a time when we left the faucet open when we brushed our teeth, or threw trash or spit on a lake or stream? Even bathing in these bodies of water could have helped worsen this problem. There was a time when Pasig River was clean and many other bodies of water also. But instead of taking care of them we have overused them through over population and careless disposal of garbage we have turned them into waste dumps. Imagine how embarrassing it is to have more rainfall than many countries around the world, yet have less drinking water than many of them. If you think about it, that’s really pathetic. No wonder we have to rely on bodies of water from so far away. But frankly, I don’t really think it would have been this bad if the people weren’t so crowded into one area. And now we have to have those four villages from far away take the burden of our faults. But else can we do? Manila has to survive, the people in Manila us want to continue to live on right? But even then, I don’t think such a peace would last. True, maybe relief for several decades, but the solution may still end up biting our butts one day.  If we cannot give consideration for the people in those 4 villages through compassion then we will have to with logic. Even if those people from the four villages are displaced, where will they go? Here in Manila, where we are already suffering the negative effects of overpopulation ourselves. How about to another place, another city? One thing we have to understand is that the more we displace residents the more they may end up crowding in one place causing overpopulation and the draining of that locations natural resources, continuing the cycle that has started in Manila all over again. All in all such a choice would be tasteless. I don’t know if there can be anything else done. Morally ambiguous decisions are not anyone’s cup of tea.  

 

But anyway, whatever happens, we must hope that whether those people are relocated or not, we have to try to make sure that they end up in a place where they can freely thrive and grow on their own. This is because however small a component of the Philippines they are, they are still part of the Philippines and whatever bad or good thing happens to the smallest part can have the same effect on the whole, it can even affect us. Also, one day we must find away to live with our environment  

Glenn’s Article

I once thought of ADB as a bank, supposedly awash with wealth, that
they are able to finance big projects for the betterment of developing
countries. Because of Forum_on_ADB, I realized that there are many
incidences wherein the projects and loans that ADB approves of are actually
either dehumanizing to the citizens of the community or destructive to
the environment or market/social structures within that community.

Laiban Dam is an example of a project that ADB once approved.
In fact, ADB has already released some amount of money for Technical Assistance
and Research of the Feasibility of the Study. Laiban Dam was actually
in the process of being approved, several years ago, but, only recently,
is being revived once again. Villagers from the surrounding communities
continue the Outcry against the Dam Project, speaking of how fisheries and
farmlands are made worthless by this Project. There have also been accounts
of bribery and civilian soldiers hired to suppress the Outcry of the villagers.

As of July 25, 07, there is reason to believe that ADB has ceased supporting
the Laiban Dam Project. This, from ADB’s perspective, is because the
environmental or social assurances that should be kept safe are not being protected
in the terms of the project, thus, because of these safety measures, ADB
has decided to withdraw from the Laiban Dam Project.

Unfortunately, however, there are sources who say that a Chinese Firm is planning
to pursue the Loan Approval, even if detrimental environmental and social effects
may be expected.

May this paper and website be of help to those affected and continue to be affected
by mismanagement of resources to Bad Loans.

 - glenn

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