Dato Mulls Suspension of Controversial Dam Project

NAGA CITY (11 December) -Camarines Sur Representative Dato Arroyo is willing to recommend to the National Irrigation Administration the temporary suspension of the construction of the P1.9 billion Libmanan-Cabusao dam project amid "social acceptability concerns," Presidential Assistant Secretary for Bicol Affairs Tomasito Monson said Tuesday.

"Congressman Arroyo said he would recommend to concerned agencies especially National Irrigation Administration to conduct further study on the effects of the dam to surrounding areas."

Speaking at the first-ever forum between the proponents of the dam and those who opposes it, Monson also said that as early as the first week of November, there had been weekly talks with concerned government agencies to consider the temporary suspension of the construction of the dam, while a further study on the effects and social acceptability of the dam was underway.

Held last December 8 at the Richard Michael Fernando Hall in Ateneo de Naga University, the forum was sponsored by the Diocese of Libmanan, which seeks to mediate the "divisive" issue.

Arroyo said the negative effects of the construction of the dam were being considered.

"But we cannot order the outright stoppage of the construction of the dam because we do not have the authority to do that," he said referring to his office.

"Only the central office of the National Irrigation Administration has the power to do that."

He also said that there was a due process to be followed before the agency can order temporary stoppage of the construction of the dam.

"For instance, the least the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) can do is to monitor the implementation of the project although the DENR Secretary can revoke its environmental compliance certificate."

He said the infrastructure requirement for the dam, including the replacements for the spillways and footbridges that would be submerged by the dam's backwater, was being processed by the Department of Budget and management.

He said despite the readiness of the budget for needed infrastructure, the ordering of temporary stoppage still would be possible.

"Temporary stoppage could not be ordered outright now despite the ongoing talks. But the construction of the dam naturally is being delayed by the rainy spell the province is experiencing."

He assured all those present in the forum that the government could even consider the issuance of a cease and desist order if concerned agencies assessed that the dam project would do more harm than good.

"Hopefully we can finalize our decision before December ends."

But Victor Dennis Nierva, who acts as the spokesperson of Lupi Kontra Dam (Lupi Against Dam), was not convinced.

"We were not born yesterday. I would not believe him (Monson) until the time the construction of the dam was stopped. They are just saying that they are open to the temporary stoppage of the construction of the dam to appease us, just like what they (dam proponents) would always do.

The dam was touted as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's gift to son Dato on his 34^th birthday September last year.

Dato is the representative of the first district of Camarines Sur, which recently has been reapportioned into two new districts.

Proponents of the Libmanan-Cabusao irrigation and dam project said the dam would increase agricultural productivity by irrigating4,000 hectares of farms.

But its opponents said it would cause the inundation of fertile agricultural lands in Lupi and Sipocot towns and the displacement of hundreds of families.