Delivery of tunnel-boring machine to hasten completion of P12.2-B Kaliwa Dam project
THE government is targeting to fast-track the ongoing construction of the Kaliwa Dam project after the arrival of a much-awaited equipment by the second quarter of the year. Citing the discussions during the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said that the tunnel-boring machine for the project is expected to arrive by May.
“Once the tunnel-boring machine arrives, we will see faster progress on the project,” Nograles said during an online news briefing on Thursday.
The China-funded project worth P12.2 billion was originally set to start in 2019 and be completed by 2024.
However, its construction was delayed due to permit problems. With the current time line, the project is expected to be completed by 2025 instead.
The construction of the dam is being opposed by affected indigenous peoples’ groups and environmental advocates, citing its impact to vegetation and wildlife, displacement of several communities, location near a fault line, and hefty price, which will further add to public debt.
Pending projects
ONCE completed, Nograles said the Kaliwa Dam project will ensure the water security of the National Capital Region (NCR) and its surrounding areas.
He said other similar projects, which aim to supply more water to Luzon and are now in the works, include the Long Term Water Source Development for Metro Manila Project (Upper Kaliwa and Kanan River); East Bay water Supply Project-phase 1; East Bay Water Supply Project-phase 2; Wawa-calawis Water Supply Project-phase 1; and the Wawa-calawis Water Supply Project-phase 2.
“All together, these projects will be able to supply a total of 1,368 million liters per day, or MLD [to Luzon],” Nograles said.
NCR was hit with severe water shortages in recent years due to low rainfall in some parts of Luzon.
For this year at least, Nograles said, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) assured President Duterte and members of the Cabinet that there will be no water shortage in NCR.
Final stages
IN a related development, Nograles said the government’s new concession agreement with Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. Inc. are now almost complete.
“The proposed concession agreements are already within their final stages .... After that, the group, which was tasked by President Duterte to negotiate or renegotiate [with the water concessionaires] and finalize the new water concession agreements may know what to do,” Nograles said.
To recall, Duterte warned he will nationalize water distribution in Metro Manila if Maynilad and Manila Water refuse government’s new service contracts that will be offered to them.
Duterte ordered the review of the service contracts of the two water concessionaires, contracts, which, he said, allegedly contain “onerous provisions.”