The expensive and harmful ‘Build Better More’

June 2, 2023

The Philippine government has a repetitive narrative when it comes to infrastructure – that it will “revitalize the economy” and “create more jobs” or that the government is “Building more for better lives” — claims so-repeated that they seem like obvious benefits. But history shows that this is not always the case.

Four reasons why the Kaliwa Dam Project loan is onerous

October 11, 2020

Features | President Duterte has reportedly ordered a review of loan agreements to determine if any are onerous and disadvantageous to the Filipino people. Yet the Kaliwa Dam project which has come under fire for its unfavorable Chinese loan agreement has already started.

Dam(n)ming the Philippines

March 14, 2020

The ongoing construction of megadams physically threatening communities and the environment, continues to unfold and warrant government and public attention too. Adding this voice on the International Day of Rivers and Against Large Dams: #MalalangEkonomiya #MayMagagawa #ProtectTheEnvironment #UpholdPeoplesRights #NoToKaliwaKananLaibanDams #NoToOnerousChinaLoans #PeoplesControlOverPeoplesResources

No need for Kaliwa Dam

October 24, 2019

Probe Kaliwa Dam bidding (Inquirer.net)

October 5, 2019

Govt should be transparent, release 9 signed foreign loan agreements — IBON

March 16, 2019

Research group IBON said the Duterte administration should immediately release to the public all nine foreign loan agreements it has already signed for infrastructure projects, especially for the upcoming Kaliwa Dam project with China. The group raised concerns of government’s transparency since it has denied IBON’s previous requests for copies of the loan agreements. The […]

New large dams onerous for Filipinos — IBON

October 5, 2018

Research group IBON joined other concerned groups and advocates to launch a network opposed to the the Kaliwa, Kanan, and Laiban dam projects of the Duterte administration. The group said that large dams do not deliver their promised benefits and are harmful to communities. Filipinos will be saddled with higher taxes, to pay for their […]

ASEAN way: Big China-funded water, energy infra to displace more communities

November 20, 2017

Can be more catastrophic than MRT  Business projects oblivious to human communities are a trademark of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other globalization platforms, advocacy groups said Monday. Shortly after the conclusion of the 31st ASEAN Summit, indigenous peoples, and water and energy rights advocates slammed China-funded water and energy projects […]

Megadams: unuseful, destructive–WPN

March 23, 2017

Ten thousand families in nine barangays inhabited by the Dumagat and Remontado indigenous peoples stand to be affected by the impending revival of the New Centennial Water Source Project (NCWS) in Rizal and Quezon In forums and activities held around international commemoration of people’s action for rivers and against large dams and in pursuit of […]