Metro Infanta Foundation

Dear folks:

In case you missed it or do not know it yet, may I inform you that Mr. Jesus C. Sison, a columnist of Malaya Newspaper published in his column dated 19 March 2007, the problems of Laiban Dam.

Below is an excerpt from his column mentioned above.

With best wishes and regards.

Rudy
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Excerpt from the Colomn of Mr. Jesus C. Sison entitled: “Admit the Problem and then Solve It”, Malaya newspaper of 19 March 2007

Former Ambassador Rudy A. Arizala emailed from Santiago, Chile, requesting me to help call the attention of the authorities concerned to the plight of the residents of the towns of Infanta, Real, General Nakar (INREGNA) in Quezon province due to a dam project which is pending construction. The Laiban Dam in Tanay, Rizal, is a $1 billion project of the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage System (MWSS). The people of INREGNA are gripped by fear for adverse consequences of the project. The government should study the project further because the fear of the people of INREGNA might be justified.

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On the other hand, the Laiban Dam project will provide supplemental potable drinking water needs for Metro Manila. In his letter to Quezon Gov. Willie L. Enverga, Arizala said: "I hope and pray that you and other concerned citizens especially of INREGNA towns would be able to do something to prevent a project which may endanger thousands of lives and properties in Quezon province." The project has been in the planning board since the 1980s and the implementation was off and on. The dam will also generate electricity.

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However, the minus factor of the dam project includes thousands of hectares of land in Rizal and Quezon to be converted as the reservoir of the water diverted from Agos river. Also existing infrastructure will be on geophysical survey and analysis, the area is known to be within the earthquake fault line zone. If the residents of INREGNA are right, there may be a need for the project to be re-studied.

Email address: jesssison_2000@yahoo.com