Probe on P2.1-B irrigation project in Tarlac sought

ANGELES CITY , Philippines   â€“ The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) yesterday called on Congress to investigate the construction of the Balog-Balog Dam, reportedly a pet project of President Aquino in his home province of Tarlac.

The project has already cost the government P2.18 billion amid the opposition of residents that could be affected by floods that the irrigation dam might cause.

The KMP called for an immediate stop to the Balog-Balog Dam project that is a serious threat to the livelihood of residents.

The KMP urged Congress to conduct a “no-holds barred” investigation on the project.

In a statement, the KMP said that “residents of San Jose and Capas in Tarlac are opposing the project because it will only cause the destruction of the environment since the project will result in the closure of the Busa River to create a more than 2,000-hectare reservoir with capacity of 625 million cubic meters.”

The group said that residents of Sta. Juliana, Capas, Pantol, Pisapungan, Pula and Pilyen towns could also be prone to flashfloods because the dam will affect the Buyboy River.

KMP secretary-general Antonio Flores said Tarlac City, Paniqui, Moncada, Concepcion, and La Paz are also vulnerable to flooding.

Flores said the Balog-Balog Dam project is a pet project of the Cojuangco-Aquinos that would allegedly benefit Hacienda Luisita’s sugar plantation.

He said local farmers oppose the project because of the dangers it poses to the lives of the residents and the environment.

“Worse, the Balog-Balog Dam project will deprive farmers of the land they are tilling,” Flores added.

The dam, dubbed as the Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project, was envisioned to provide irrigation to 39,150 hectares of farmlands in the towns of Concepcion, Gerona, Pura, Ramos, Paniqui, La Paz and Victoria, and Tarlac City.

The dam is supposed to stop flooding in low-lying areas and provide upland communities with the opportunity to pursue inland fish production in the dam’s reservoir.

Flores said that from 2002 to 2013, a total of P2.18 billion was already allocated for the Balog-Balog Dam project that was included in the budget of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act in 2009 and the General Appropriations Act in 2010 and 2011.

He said that an additional P532,992,000 was allocated for the dam project in the General Appropriations Act of 2013.

“Billions of public funds were already spent for this anti-peasant project. What has happened to it? A no-holds-barred probe on this multi-billion project is in order,” Flores said.