Water shortage likely if no new dam is built

The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) has allayed fears on the construction of the P12.1-billion New Centennial Water Source Project-Kaliwa Dam, which is being opposed  by some sectors.

“After 34 years in the doldrums, construction of the Kaliwa Dam project will finally go full blast in the coming months that will supply an additional 600 million liters of water per day to Metro Manila and environs by 2023,” MWSS administrator Reynaldo Velasco said.

Complement

The Kaliwa Dam will address the possible water shortage in the coming years in Metro Manila and its environs and complement the Angat Dam, which supplies 96 percent of the water needs of the metropolis, Bulacan, Rizal and Cavite.

President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping will formally sign on Nov. 21 the contract for the project, which will be undertaken next year by China Energy Engineering Corp. (CEEC). It will be completed in 2023.

‘Done deal’

“It’s a done deal national project,” Velasco said, referring to the Kaliwa Dam project located in Quezon province.

“When completed, this will answer the nagging water security problem in Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan,” he pointed out.

Velasco also assured that the Kaliwa dam could withstand an 8-magnitude earthquake.