Various groups say mega-dike project a bane to Laguna towns

While Metro Manilans keep their feet dry, residents in Laguna lakeshore towns would drown in flood.

This is the scenario presented by groups opposing the multi-billion North Laguna Lakeshore Flood Control and Drainage or the mega-dike project.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr., in an interview over the weekend, said that representatives of the affected areas in Metro Manila as well as parts of Rizal have expressed their approval in the implementation of the P2.9 billion project funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

The 9.8 kilometer mega-dike project extending from Bicutan in Taguig to Taytay in Rizal is said to be the solution to the perennial flooding problem in key Metro Manila areas. But the planners of the project failed to take into consideration the impact of the dike on the Lakeshore areas, Abalos said. These include Binangonan, Baras, Angono, and some parts of Laguna.

The problem was discussed in a dialogue held last Friday at the MMDA office, among the parties that will be affected by the dike and their government counterparts. According to Abalos, representatives from these areas as well as non-government organizations representing the farmers, fisherfolk, and urban poor argued that while the road dike would solve the flooding in Metro Manila, floodwaters would accumulate on the Lakeshore towns.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Abalos said, had agreed to look into the flooding issue and submit an initial report at a meeting scheduled on Friday.

Present in last week’s meeting were Taguig Major Sigfrido Tinga, Pateros Mayor Rosendo Capco, Laguna Lake Development Authority General Manager Calixto Cataquiz, DPWH Undersecretary Manuel Bonoan, and Secretary Ding Delez of the National Anti-Poverty Commission. Earlier, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Allan Peter Cayetano had also raised concerns that the present alignment of the road dike would render 1,300 hectares of land in Taguig worth P13 billion, useless.

Malacañang had earlier deferred the implementation of the project following the strong opposition of several groups.

After a visit to Taguig last week, President Arroyo had instructed Abalos to ‘weigh things’ before Malacañang gives the green light to start the project. — Marvin Sy and Nikko Dizon