Talaga Board Member Claro ‘Jerry’ Talaga

Quezon dads dare gov to stop Kaliwa Dam

July 18, 2021 Gemi Formaran 918 views

LUCENA CITY — The Quezon Provincial Board (Sangguniang Panglalawigan) on Friday moved to conduct an investigation on reports that the groundbreaking rite for the construction of the P12.2 billion Kaliwa Dam project in Northern Quezon has been conducted.

Quezon 1st District Board Member Claro ‘Jerry’ Talaga in a privilege speech revealed the groundbreaking rite that allegedly happened in Rizal.

“Ang groundbreaking ng Kaliwa Dam project ay malinaw na hudyat ng pagsisimula upang maitayo ang higanteng dam na ito na sisipsip sa tinatayang 600 milyong litro ng tubig kada araw sa ating Kaliwa River sa bahagi ng Bgy. Pagsangahan, Gen. Nakar at Bgy. Magsaysay, Infanta, Quezon upang dalhin ang tubig at punan ang kakulangan ng supply sa kalakhan ng Metro Manila”, said Talaga.

Talaga dusclosed that up to 21.7 kilometers of long tunnel will have to be excavated in the Dam project, called by its proponents the “New Centennial Water Kaliwa Dam Project”, a joint venture initiative between the Metropolitan Water Sewerage System (MWSS); and China Energy Engineering Co. and is among the big-ticket projects of the national government under the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

He recalled that on November 17, 2020, Quezon Governor Danilo Suarez in a speech at Infanta town plaza categorically expressed his blatant opposition to the project and even warned to take legal action once the Dam construction continues.

Talaga recalled that the board subsequently passed Resolution #2020-840 giving authority to the governor to take necessary legal action to stop the ongoing construction of access road and other undertakings related to the Dam project.

With the reported groundbreaking event, Talaga pressed Gov. Suarez to take the necessary legal steps as the latter had vowed to stop the project.

Talaga’s moved was supported by his colleagues including the governor’s son, 3rd district board member Donaldo Suarez.

The young Suarez, stressed that during the administration of his brother, former Gov. David Suarez, “the provincial government had dutifully done its role in providing the best solutions to their constituents especially concerning any project that requires for it to share the resources of the province.”

1st District Board Member Alona Obispo said that all the succeeding foir Quezon provincial governors have expressed opposition to the Dam project – Wilfrido Enverga, Rafael Nantes, David Suarez and the latter’s father who is now the incumbent governor.

According to the STOP Kaliwa Dam, construction of the KD project will likely cause the possibility of flooding in watersheds below in several areas in Tanay, Rizal; and in Real and Infanta in Quezon.

AUTHOR PROFILE