TABUK CITY, Kalinga– As accusations of employing deception over the proposed 52 MW hydroelectric project in the Chico River in Lucog, this city, are swapped, calls for the parties to tell the truth about the project were recently sounded.
Fr. Roman Macaiba, social action director of the Apostolic Vicariate of Tabuk, expressed the wish that the developer will not try to mislead people when he lectured on the impact of dams during the indignation rally against the project at sitio Makanyaw, Bagumbayan, this city, last Sunday.
According to the organizers, at least 300 residents of the affected communities, namely, Nabnab, Kulngukong, Makanyaw, Linang and Tolak and sympathizers including members of the Cordillera People’s Alliance and Timpuyog ti Mannalon ti Kalinga took part in the rally.
Macaiba said that to begin with, the proponents use the word “weir” to avoid the word “dam” because of its sensitive connotation among Kalingas due to the harrowing Chico River Dam conflict during Martial Law.
He said that the two words are synonymous.
Karayan Hydropower Corp (KHC), the proponent of the project, is a joint venture of San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders and Developers Group, Inc. and Union Energy Corp, two local companies.
Citing definitions from the International Commission on Large Dams and the World Commission on Dams, Macaiba told the rally participants that any dam which is higher than 15 meters and has a reservoir capacity of more than 3M cubic meters is considered a large dam.
He said that the proposed dam is 26 meter high and according to information, has a reservoir capacity of 24M cubic meters.
Macaiba said that weirs do not go beyond 15 meters high.
He also said that with its power generating capacity of 52 MW, the project is classified as a mega dam which he alleged the proponent is not being forthright about.
He also stated that the KHC described the facility as a run-off-river (ROR) type but that according to experts, beyond 10 MW capacity, RORs could create problems.
Macaiba said that according to studies, the acceptable amount of impounded water in a dam is 3M cubic meters while allegedly, the Chico River project will have reservoir capacity of 24M cubic meter.
Macaiba mentioned the following among others as common effects of large dams: displacement of residents in area; downstream and upstream flooding; sedimentation; and diseases.
Macaiba said that the project will threaten the status of Tabuk City as the Cordillera’s rice granary because during summer when the water in the river is low and the company will impound more water so that it could continue generating electricity, the farmlands will be deprived of irrigation water.
In its emailed reaction to the issue against the project, KHC denied using deception in all its dealings with the people even as it expressed the hope that those opposed to the dam “will also tell the truth for the good of the community.”
Regarding the issue of the usage of the term weir, Royal Haskoning of Netherlands (RHN), the project consultant, said that according to the International Hydropower Association, the difference between a dam and a weir is in the function such that a dam stores large amounts of water while a weir diverts the water or increase its level but has no intention to store water.
“The height of the weir is not specified,” the consultant said.
Regarding the statement of Macaiba that RORs are acceptable up to maximum electricity generation capacity of 10 MW, RHN cited several authorities which say that RORs do not alter the river because after producing the electricity, the water flows back to the river.
The consultant also cited several large dams classified as ROR the biggest of which is the Belo Monte Dam in Brazil which has a height of 90 meters and generation capacity of 11,233 MW.
Regarding the impounding capacity of the proposed dam, RHN claimed that the reservoir of the dam has 2.37 M cubic meter effective volume which is lower than the 3M cubic meters acceptable threshold mentioned by Macaiba
RHN also maintains there will be no downstream flooding “except for the flooding that would also occur without weir.”
“During a flood event there will be overflow spilling of the water, which means that the amount of water transported to the reservoir is equal to the spilled volume,” the consultant said.
RHN also said that with regards to sedimentation, their weir will be equipped with a flushing facility that will enable the flushing out of sedimentation on a regular basis.
Regarding the allegation that the hydropower plant will impound the water intended for the irrigation of Tabuk’s ricefielfs during summer when the water is low thus preventing the planting during that season, RHN denied there will be an effect on irrigation supply because under ROR operations, the volume of water that flows into the dam is the same volume that flows out.
Regarding the observation that hydroelectric dam developers usually employ divide and conquer tactics and that the worst effect of dam projects are they destroy the peace and harmony in the affected locality, KHC said that they will also benefit if the community is united.
The company said it is for this reason they have “been exerting all efforts to reach out to all parties, follow protocols and traditions, and foster an environment of inclusiveness to the community. We would like to emphasize that everyone in the community are our partners and not mere beneficiaries of this endeavor.”
In reaction to the observation mentioned by Macaiba in his lecture that dam developers promise a lot of benefits in order to get the assent of some members of the community and make it appear as an indigenous cultural community-initiated project, KHC claimed it never misrepresented the project as indigenous cultural community-initiated project for which reason they are undergoing the Free, Prior and Informed Consent process facilitated by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.
KHC also denied making promises to the communities alleging that the benefits they presented are statutory benefits provided by the EPIRA Law, the Local Government Code, National Internal Revenue Code and other laws.
Regarding the comment that the work that will be available for locals in the event the project pushes through are manual and temporary, KHC said that the company will abide by the provisions of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act giving priority to competent and qualified local workers like engineers, accountants, security and safety personnel, administrative staff, drivers among others.
Raul Albert, member of the Naneng tribe and who was the chairman of the Committee on Land Use when the Comprehensive Land Use Plan-Zoning Ordinance was passed by the Sangguniang Panlungsod, informed the rally participants that according to the legislation, the stretch of the Chico River from Dupag to Dalimuno, Bantay is a tourism zone.
“This means that no distraction shall be made in the area. Only tourism-related activities shall be implemented in the area,” Albert said.
Also during the rally, Benny Duyan, one of those spearheading the opposition to the project, told the assembly that the project threatens to bring back the situation when the government tried to construct the Chico River Dam project during Martial Law.
Duyan recalled that peace returned to the area after the Chico River Dam project was abandoned even as he called on everyone not to tempt the recurrence of the unfortunate episode in the province’s history.
Councilor Glenn Amla, a member of the Naneng tribe, said that the leadership of the city will support the affected residents whatever their choice but that personally, if some inhabited areas and ricefields will be submerged, he will oppose the project.
He pleaded with the opposing camps not to sow hatred and to refrain from spreading disinformation in social media.
Retired policeman Cornelio Balnao, one of the leaders of the residents opposed to the project, declared that their land is not for sale and that the sentiment is shared by residents of the five affected villages.
The proponent clarified that based on the topographic survey, there are 25 hectares of rice and coffee plantations that will be inundated including 1.7 hectares of rice paddies in sitio Makanyaw.
KHC said the affected landowners “will be fairly and reasonably compensated.”
The company also admitted a burial site in Torak will be affected but assured that they will discuss with the affected family possible remedies.
Louie Dacio told the ZigZag Weekly that he and 20 other residents of downstream barangay Cabaruan, this city, attended the rally because they are concerned that they may not be able to farm during the summer if the hydropower facility will impound all the water in the river specially so that they rely on communal irrigation systems directly sourced from the river.**Estanislao Albano, Jr.
