Duterte willing to review Kaliwa Dam deal – Palace
Credit to Author: Ma. Reina Leanne Tolentino, TMT| Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2020 16:15:00 +0000
President Rodrigo Duterte is willing to review the Kaliwa Dam deal, Malacañang said on Thursday.
“Oo (Yes). That goes without saying. Ang Presidente naman, basta may nag-point out sa kanya na merong onerous provision tinitingnan kaagad iyon. Kung nakaligtas man iyon doon sa mga dapat tumingin, siya mismo titingnan niya iyan (The President reviews contracts when somebody claims these have onerous provisions. If these were overlooked by those who made first scrutiny, he himself takes a look),” Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing.
“Eh kung makita ni Presidenteng one sided, ‘di pareho rin nung sa water, ‘di ba, ayaw niya ng onerous provisions (If the President sees that it is one-sided, it’s the same as the water contracts. He loathes onerous provisions),” Panelo said.
He was referring to the contracts with Manila Water Co, Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc., which the President slammed for being onerous.
The China-funded Kaliwa Dam project will be constructed in Rizal and Quezon provinces. It seeks to boost the water supply in Metro Manila.
The President had said that the construction of the Kaliwa Dam and the Wawa Dam would help ease the water problem in Metro Manila.
“I will order them to go ahead and we will pay the natives and we will relocate them,” he said in a speech in Digos, Davao del Sur on December 30.
Duterte also warned courts not to issue restraining orders against the dam project.
“Do not make it to the point na sabihin ko (that I will say) ‘ignore them,’” he added.
Some groups have opposed the Kaliwa Dam project, saying it would displace indigenous peoples and flood vast areas.