The municipal government of Infanta, Quezon again expressed opposition to the Kaliwa Dam Project, adopting a similar 2024 Quezon provincial board declaration against the controversial development.
Infanta’s municipal council unanimously approved Resolution No. 132-Series of 2025 in its inaugural session last July 3 adopting Quezon Provincial Board’s Resolution No. 2024-164 “vehemently opposing” the establishment of the dam in the province.
Infanta is one of two Quezon municipalities affected by the dam project, aside from three other towns in adjacent Rizal province.
The July 3 resolution cited a 2018 Municipal Development Council decision as well as an earlier council resolution supporting the residents’ opposition to the project as one of the reasons for the new resolution.
“The Municipality of Infanta has not given any approval and/or permission on the project,” the resolution reads, adding it is remaining strong in its resolve to protect its residents against the effects of the project.
The municipal leaders said their town is prone to massive devastation in times of typhoons, flooding, and other calamities the dam project may worsen.
“[T]he Kaliwa Dam Project has a major environmental impact as it may cause pollution; climate change; depletion of non-renewable resources; loss of cropland, rangeland and forest cover; and extinction of animal or plant species,” the resolution further reads.
It also complained of the lack of consultation by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System with both the municipal and provincial governments as mandated by the Local Government Code.
The project also failed to seek permits for its construction of an access road in the municipality and it has failed to secure a free, prior and informed consent with the majority of indigenous peoples groups in Gen. Nakar town, it adds.
The resolution was passed by all members of the council and approved by Mayor Lord Arnel Ruanto.
The Kaliwa Dam Project a large-scale water infrastructure project to increase water supply for Metro Manila and nearby provinces by 600 million liters per day.
It involves building a 63-meter high dam at Infanta’s Barangay Magsaysay dam as well as a 28-kilometer water conveyance tunnel to Angat Dam in Bulacan province.
It’s planned reservoir would have a surface area of approximately 291 hectares.
Infanta joins the municipal governments of Pinukpuk, Balbalan, and Tabuk in Kalinga province that expressed opposition to existing dam projects in their respective territories. # (Raymund B.Villanueva)
