NAGA CITY, Philippines—A P1.9-billion irrigation dam that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo helped facilitate for her son, Rep. Dato Arroyo, was an unnecessary expense, according to an institute at a respected school here.

The Institute of Environmental Conservation and Research (Inecar), of the Ateneo de Naga University (AdNU), added its voice to opposition against the Libmanan-Cabusao Dam, being constructed in Barangay Malaguico in Sipocot, Camarines Sur.

In a statement endorsed by AdNU president Fr. Joel E. Tabora and released Tuesday, the Inecar said the dam was unnecessary, as there were alternative ways to irrigate farms in Libmanan and Cabusao that would not displace residents of Sipocot and Lupi and destroy the area’s rich biodiversity.

The two towns, the Inecar statement said, “can source water from the rivers and creeks within their territories.”

Emelina G. Regis, Inecar director, said she was appealing to the sensibility of government agencies who proposed the dam to listen to the concerns of residents in the towns of Lupi and Sipocot.

Regis urged government to rethink the building of the dam and instead consider less costly alternatives.

“It is much easier, less costly, and less dangerous to access water from Libmanan River than to create a dam costing P1.9 billion, considering that Libmanan town, the largest municipality in terms of population in Camarines Sur, has plenty of creeks and springs in its watershed,” she said.

She said a “water harvester” could be used instead, like what farmers in India and China use.

“Small impounding ponds for rainwater collected during the rainy season can be used by farmers to provide water for their farms,” Regis added.

Pumps currently irrigate 2,195 hectares of rice farms in the towns of Libmanan and Cabusao.

“The dam costs P1.9 billion. At P1.9-billion expense, the pumps being used at present could be operated in 271 years, with consideration of other costs such as fuel and machine maintenance,” Regis argued.

She said using the pumps is more economical, and would not displace people.

Regis said the government erred in classifying Lupi and Sipocot towns as areas that would not be inundated when the dam operates.

“When the dam is constructed, 13 villages or about one-third of Lupi’s villages, will be inundated,” she said. Jonas Cabiles Soltes, Inquirer Southern Luzon