THE government’s two major private concessionaires—Manila Water Co. Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc.—have expressed full support for the controversial New Centennial Water Supply Project-Kaliwa Dam of the Duterte administration.
The multibillion-peso project, part of the Duterte administration’s water security and “Build, Build, Build” programs, will supply an additional 600 million liters/day (MLD) by 2023 to Metro Manila and the nearby provinces of Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan.
The P12.2-billion Kaliwa Dam project will be funded by a P10.2-billion package under China’s Official development assistance and a counterpart fund of P2 billion from the Philippine government.
Several groups have been calling on the government not to proceed with the Kaliwa Dam project, one of the most delayed infrastructure projects. They cited concerns with the environmental impact of the project, its alleged dislocation of communities and the terms of the Chinese funding.
The expression of support came two days before President Duterte formalizes the deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping on November 20, instead of November 21, as earlier reported.
The construction of the large dam will be undertaken by the China Energy Engineering Corp. (CEEC) and is expected to be completed by 2023, or possibly earlier.
“Manila Water strongly supports the water security advocacy of MWSS and the recent creation of a technical working group to develop the Water Supply Masterplan for both East and West Zones to sustain national development,” Manila Water President and CEO Ferdinand M. de la Cruz said in a statement released through the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System. The MWSS is taking the lead in the project’s implementation.
“Given the 96-percent dependency of Metro Manila on Angat Dam, we underscore the urgency of building new water sources, including the already approved Kaliwa Dam project. We will continue to work with MWSS and other related agencies in updating the much-needed master plan to address the future demand of the metropolis,” de la Cruz added.
“The Kaliwa Dam project is in line with government efforts to ensure water supply sustainability and reliability for Metro Manila residents. It is an additional raw water source that will augment the supply from Angat Dam, which is currently the only major source being tapped,” Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez said for his part.
The construction of the new dam is essential to meeting the increasing demand for clean water, particularly in Metro Manila, with its estimated population of 12 million.
It will also reduce Metro Manila’s dependence on the raw water supply from Angat Dam, source of around 97 percent of the raw water supply.
“Maynilad affirms the need for developing this new water source, and is committed to support[ing] the MWSS in implementing the project,” Fernandez said.
Saying the MWSS is in a catch-up mode to avert a water crisis in the coming years, MWSS Administrator Reynaldo Velasco credited the Duterte administration for its political will in helping avert a possible water shortage in the future in Metro Manila.
He noted that since the construction of the Angat Dam more than 60 years ago, no new surface water dam was ever developed.
A concrete water reservoir embankment hydroelectric dam, the Angat Dam also supplies irrigation needs of farmers in Pampanga and Bulacan. It was a part of the Angat-Ipo-La Mesa water system.
The construction of the dam began in 1961, but it was only completed and opened on October 16, 1967.
The concrete dam has a height of 131 meters and the base is approximately 550 meters.
The Angat Dam is located within the Angat Watershed Forest Reserve in Barangay San Lorenzo, Norzagaray, Bulacan.