MANILA, Philippines—Activist groups voiced fear Friday that a P780-million flood control project around Laguna de Bay would displace some 400,000 people in four towns in Laguna province and warned of a revolt if this happened as a result of the “wrecking project in Laguna de Bay.”
Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), Save Laguna Lake Movement, and Anakpawis partylist said the construction of river control structures would require the demolition of communities living around the lake.
The groups said 400,000 people in the towns of Sta. Cruz, Sta. Maria, Mabitac and San Pedro could end up losing their homes.
In a press statement, Pamalakaya vice chairperson Salvador France and Anakpawis partylist vice chairperson Fernando Hicap claimed President Aquino has given the go-signal to carry out the “lake-wide demolition to pave the way for the construction of river control structures along the four towns.”
They said their information came from “reliable sources.”
“According to our reliable sources, the demolition of lake families will start right after the May 13 elections,” the groups said in a statement, adding that it was the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) that set the timetable for the completion of the flood control structures.
The groups warned of “an across-the-Laguna Lake revolt” if the government went ahead with the “wrecking project in Laguna de Bay.”
“They better think over a million times before they proceed with this Public-Private Partnership inspired project in the lake,” Hicap and France said.
The groups are questioning the propriety of the P780-million project assigned by the Department of Public Works and Highways to LLDA, saying it is not a job for the lake agency.
“The LLDA is mandated by law to protect and preserve the 90,000-hectare lake for the benefit of fishing and farming families around the lake. It is not obliged to undertake public works,” the groups said.
LLDA general manager Neric Acosta earlier said the fund would be used to solve the perennial problem of flooding around the lake due to natural disasters exacerbated by uncontrolled logging and improper garbage disposal.
Under Republic Act 4850, the LLDA is tasked to plan, program, finance, or undertake infrastructure projects such as river, flood and tidal control works, among other functions.