Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 16) — About 300 Dumagat-Remontado indigenous peoples, along with environmental groups and other advocates from the agriculture sector, began a nine-day protest march to urge the government to stop the construction of the Kaliwa Dam.
The rally, dubbed as “Alay Lakad Laban sa Kaliwa Dam,” began at General Nakar, Quezon on Feb. 15 and will end in Malacañang in Manila on Feb. 23. It will cover 150 kilometers and pass through Quezon, Laguna and Rizal.
NAKAABANTE NA SILA! 👣
Simula na ang 9 na araw na Alay-Lakad ng 300 katutubong Dumagat / Remontado para tutulan at ipatigil ang Kaliwa Dam! Mula sa baybay ng Sulok sa Gen. Nakar, Quezon hanggang makarating sa Malacañang sa February 23. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/zm6vaa49NA
— STOP Kaliwa Dam (@StopKaliwaDam) February 15, 2023
According to STOP Kaliwa Dam Network, an environmental and conservation group, solving the water crisis in Metro Manila must not bring dangers to local residents who rely on the Kaliwa River and the Kaliwa Watershed Forest Reserve for clean water, food, livelihood, and protection from climate impacts.
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It also must not destroy the biodiversity in the Sierra Madre mountain range and bury Filipinos in debt, especially from China, the group added.
The Kaliwa Dam is a project implemented by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), funded by a loan from China.
The nine-day protest will include talks with legislators and with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Quezon City on possible efforts to protect Sierra Madre.
The groups also reiterated the call to oppose the Special Use Agreement on Protected Areas (SAPA).
The SAPA, once issued, will enable productive use of protected areas while maintaining its status as a protective area.
Rep. Emigdio Tanjuatco III of the 2nd District of Rizal earlier filed House Bill 5055, declaring Kaliwa River Forest Reserve — which covers the municipalities of Tanay, Rizal and General Nakar, Quezon — as a protected area under the National Integrated Protected Areas System.
“Declaring the reserve as a protected area will ensure that these flora and fauna will continue to be preserved and that the area will receive the appropriate management so that its existing biodiversity is not disturbed,” the bill read.
The Kaliwa River Forest Reserve, which is part of the Sierra Madre mountain range, houses endangered wildlife species such as Northern Philippine Hawk-eagle and Philippine Brown Deer and about 170 plant species.
