By Elmer Valenzuela
Residents of Pakil, Laguna, joined by civil society groups, environmental defenders, church members, youth advocates, and neighboring communities again took to the streets on Saturday, July 5, in an indignation rally against the Ahunan Dam project.
Following tree-cutting incidents last June 21 on a hill above the picturesque town, outraged residents staged the rally demanding an immediate stop to dam construction activities anew.
The tree-cutting activities are related to the controversial project, they said.
Ahunan is a proposed 1,400-megawatt pumped-storage hydropower facility atop the Sierra Madre mountain range within the boundaries of Pakil.
The project, a joint venture by Billionaire Enrique Razon’s Prime Metro Power Holdings Corp. and JBD Water Power Inc. claims to provide clean and renewable hydroelectric power to the Luzon grid.
Its construction however is facing renewed criticism from the town’s residents for potential negative impacts on the environment, Laguna province’s watersheds and the town’s cultural and natural heritage.
READ: Pakil residents protest construction of hydropower plant
Pakil is known as a laidback, religious, nature-loving and cultural-centric community.
Led by Mamamayang Nagmamahal sa Pakil (MaNaPak), the protest began with a morning Mass at the St. Peter of Alcantara Parish Church.
The crowd then marched to the local office of Ahunan Power Inc., where an indignation statement was read.
READ: Church, other groups join campaign vs Ahunan Dam
Protesters also condemned several issues tied to the dam project which includes the displacement of families from Pinagkampohan—a community reportedly cleared for construction; the barring of local farmers from tilling the hillsides; and the restriction of fisherfolk from accessing their fishing grounds in Laguna Lake. They also raised alarm over the wider ecological threat to the Sierra Madre mountain.
“Ito ay pagtayo ng mamamayan ng Pakil kasama na rin ang mga karatig bayan at ang mga samahan sa ibat-ibang lugar upang mapalakas namin ang aming adhikain yan ay ang pag-protekta sa kalikasan,” Pakil resident Lina Naldo said.
Naldo revealed she herself climbed Pakil’s hills last June 21 after hearing reports of tree-cutting activities. She says she was shocked upon seeing the result of the clearing operations.
“Dahil ang mga pangyayari sa nakaraang araw ay sobra na ang ginagawa nilang pagpuputol ng puno sa kabundukan na wala pang tamang permit at hindi sumusunod sa tamang proseso,” she added. #
