MWSS keen on Laiban Dam project

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) is pushing anew for the construction of the Laiban Dam at the Rizal-Quezon boundary, believing that it could address the persistent threat of dry spell and the dwindling clean water sources in the country.

In a statement, the MWSS said it is targeting to get water from the Laiban Dam, which will be built at the boundary of Tanay, Rizal and Gen. Nakar, Quezon.

The dam, to be funded by a $1-billion loan from China Eximbank, would provide the domestic, industrial, commercial, and institutional water requirements of Metro Manila and neighboring towns, including those in Rizal.

Aside from the Laiban Dam project, the MWSS gave assurance it was carrying out other measures to cope with an imminent water crisis as international environment group Greenpeace has warned of.

In a recent study, Greenpeace revealed that the quality of fresh water sources in the country is persistently declining.

MWSS Administrator Lorenzo Jamora said the Laiban Dam project is part of his agency’s program to ensure adequate supply of clean water to Metro Manila and neighboring towns.

He said Laiban would augment the water supply coming from the La Mesa and Angat dams.

Citing a feasibility study, Jamora said the Laiban Dam could secure the water supply demand of Metro Manila for the next 30 to 40 years as it is projected to provide 1,900 million liters of water per day.

Metro Manila consumes an average of 500 million liters of water per day.

Jamora said the Laiban Dam, if constructed, would also contribute to the Luzon power grid as it is projected to generate 153 megawatts per hour, equivalent to an importation of about 100,000 barrels of oil per year.

“The Laiban project is designed to divert, store, treat and distribute a daily average supply of water to MWSS service areas,” he said.

Jamora said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Rizal provincial government pose no objection to the government-backed project.

However, various environmental groups have opposed the new dam project, citing its adverse impact on the environment.

Environmentalists claimed that the Laiban Dam would endanger communities, including indigenous groups, since it will be built near a geological fault.