Earthquake jitters concerns on mega- dam project seek public hearing

ILOILO CITY, Philippines - — The devastation wrought by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Bohol prompted a group of indigenous people to support Bayan Muna's House Resolution 323, asking the national resources committee to conduct an on-site investigation of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project-Phase 2 (JRMP2).

Cynthia Deduro, executive director of the Panay-Guimaras Indigenous People's Network (Dagsaw),said an 'independent probe' is not enough in reevaluating the wisdom, risks and alternatives to the JRMP2. 

"There is a need for a public hearing to listen to the concerns of directly affected communities, stakeholders and taxpayers because the project will cost ?11.2 billion of public funds.

Deduro noted that Senator Franklin Drilon's assertion that the project is 'safe,' because it is 11 kilometers away from the West Panay Fault, was not an iron-clad guarantee. 

She explained that Maribojoc and Looc, two of the most devastated towns of Bohol, are 48 kilometers and 46 kilometers away, respectively, from the epicenter of the earthquake in Sagbayan.

Deduro said that even Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum himself admitted that the present level of technology does not enable them to tactically predict the occurrence and magnitude of earthquakes.  They can only predict earthquakes strategically, meaning only long-term general earthquake possibilities of 50 years or more based on the behavior of active faults. 

In addition, Phivolcs further admitted that there are faults that are new and not monitored like the fault in Sagbayan, Bohol.

Instead of focusing on the integrity of the high dam of the JRMP2, a thorough and more comprehensive earthquake impact study of all municipalities and Passi City in case of  reoccurrence of "Lady Caycay," the catastrophic 8.2-magnitude quake triggered by the West Panay Fault in 1948.

A local paper reported recently that an earthquake-impact study on Iloilo City, conducted by Phivolcs and Geoscience Australia, showed that a repeat of the 1948 earthquake would result in over 8,500 buildings being in complete-damage state (i.e., those that are collapsed or cannot be repaired), and about 1,500 fatalities.

"It is therefore, reckless to guarantee that the JRMP2 is fail-safe in the context of this situation," said Deduro.

"A better alternative to the JRMP2 is the rehabilitation of existing small-scale irrigation projects and constructing new small ones, depending on need and capacity-similar to the current program of  the Iloilo provincial government," she said.

"It is less risky and not expensive. Part of the ?11.2 billion may be better used in assisting farmers with farm inputs and credit facilities and rehabilitation of existing flood control infrastructure damaged by previous floods," Deduro added. (FREEMAN)