DEBATE PO23

DOLOMITE SAND AND KALIWA DAM

What is dolomite?

 Ang project na ito ay pinagkagastuhan lamang ng gobyerno na umabot sa 350 M

which honestly, 389 M pesos ang biding sa pag rehabilitate sa manila bay.
Wherein this project emphasis the BEAUTIFICATION OF THE SAID PROJECT.
Na kung saan ang buhangin na to is made of dolomite rock mined galing sa
cebu.
 Dolomite, also known as calcium magnesium carbonate, is a non-metallic
material used in manufacturing bricks, mortar, cement, concrete, plastics, paving
materials, and other construction materials.
 Manila Bay is one of the important coastal marine ecosystems in the
country.
 The bay has served as a major avenue for trade and commerce and
considered to be the second most productive fishing ground in the country
(Perez et al. 1999)

POSITIVE EFFECT

 Pinag aralan bago nagpanukala: “DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said in

a PhilStar.com report, “Kami sa DENR pinag-aralan natin ‘yan. In the first
place ‘yung mga ginamit d’yan, especially ‘yung sand, ‘yung dolomite
boulders na ‘yan it contains calcium carbonate and if you will look sa
corals, calcium carbonate din. So it will not disrupt the coastal ecosystem.”
 Speaking of hazard to ecosystem, sasabihin ko sayo matagal ng problema ito
ng bansa, before the controversy of this project of dumping dolomite sand in
manila bay, human activities mostly threaten the exploitation and pollution that
destroy the ecosystem that you’ve depended. Actually marami pang dahilan na
sumisira sa ecosystem like the events associated with accidental oil spills,
 releases of industrial effluents, mining operations, urban runoff, and
atmospheric depositions ,etc. wag lahat isisi sa project na ito.
 That citizens have noticed the pile of white dolomitic sand off Manila Bay’s
Baywalk promenade is good news. It only means many citizens are now
aware of the value of Manila’s seafront and that the national government
and the city government have taken steps to enhance it.
 It's a smart choice that DENR chose this material because of its versatility
and affordability. Dolomite has a good reputation in the construction
industry because it's already on Manila Bay's shores. The 228-year old
sedimentary rock can also be made into bricks, cement, plastics, concrete, and
paving materials with the right skill.
 Additionally. Dolomite stone is a livestock nourishment because it
consumes the high calcium and magnesium contents. DENR Undersecretary
Benny Antiporada stated that there'd be no adverse effects since corals and
dolomite sand are both made of calcium carbonate.
 Aside from that, the project could be aesthetically pleasing for people, yung
maeexperience mo ang saya, ganda at kaginhawaang dala ng paligid, a stress
reliever view during pandemic. Money cannot buy happiness. So set aside all
the sacrifices and throwbacks, na meron ang project na ito and look for its
brighter side. Live life to the fullest and experience the best the universe
can offered.
 Metals are one of the major anthropogenic inputs into the coastal areas
(Prudente et al. 1994, Skejelkvale et al. 2001). Some of these metals are
essential biological elements; some are not essential and can be toxic even
at very low concentrations. Those that are essential to 183 organisms can also
have the potential to be toxic if present above a certain threshold concentration.
Because of their potential toxicity, heavy metals – arsenic, cadmium, chromium,
lead, and mercury – rank among the priority metals that are of public health
significance and are usually monitored in the water column in marine and
freshwater systems in the Philippines.
 Dolomite sand increases the bay’s amenity value, paano ito naging basura or
usesless kung baga?? Mind you the dolomite beach had withstand few
typhoons already and it’s still there. Nakakatawa kung paano pinupuna ng
mga tao ang gobyerno mula sa paggamit ng dolomite sand dahil sa panganib sa
kapaligiran at panganib sa kalusugan na dulot nito. Paano naman ang panganib
sa kalusugan at kapaligiran ng dumi ng tao, basura atbp, a human activities
mostly threaten the exploitation and pollution that destroy the ecosystem, way
back when the bay is like a dumpsite. What a Shame. Those
environmentalist here did nothing but to criticize,maraming administrasyon
na ang dumaan but even a bit of improvement to manila bay can’t be seen, not
until a man from davao came in to power. Ngayon na nahalal na ang isang
DUTERTE, the community did nothing but criticize. Allergery ba kayo sa
pagbabago, bungang bibig ng mga tao ang “Kaylan pa kaya aasesyo ang bansa
natin, paano aangat ang bansa kung bawat galaw ng gobyerno ay hahanapan
nito ng butas. If we want our country to belong to a developed country, magkaisi
tayo. In a way na hindi lagi ang gobyerno ang umitindi sa tao, intindihin rin natin
sila. Look for the brighter side, not on imperfection.

NEGATIVE EFFECT

 However, Oceana Philippines protested that the sand does not naturally occur
so that it might destroy the coastal ecosystem and the source of sand.
 If we want a beach on the Bay walk, then we should let nature do her job
through natural sediment replenishment together with ensuring sewage is treated
to make water suitable for recreation. The dolomite doesn’t belong in Manila
Bay but to Cebu.
 It was a vanity project that was a total waste of DENR funds and did not solve
the underlying problem of pollution.
 Dahil sa hindi mismo natural na buhangin ang nilagay sa manila bay, sinasabi ng
mga environmentalist na makakasira ito sa natural ecosystem ng manila bay.
 Marine scientist Diovanie de Jesus said the dolomite could cause hazards to
creatures in and around the water.

Effects of the Project

 Disruption to ecosystem- Manila waters are already besieged by water
pollution and resource exploitation. Adding white sand means more problems for
our aquatic friends since it will stress them out. If washed away by the ravaging
waves, it will mix into the ocean water, making the temperature high and
decrease dissolved oxygen levels, which is necessary for marine animals to
breathe.
 It is a threat to human health. Dahil according to Lehigh Hanson Inc, a texas
based distributor and builder company, Dolomite’s crystalline silica content may
result in Cancer once inhaled, skin and eye irration kapag naexpose ka ng
matagal dito and result Stomach pain/diarrhea in ingesting this thing.
 The white sand will be washed out, it would be usesless tatangayin lamang ng
alon ung buhangin mawawashed out lang ito at kapag papalitan o tatambakan
ng gobyerno ito kapag paunti- unti ng nawawala ang dolomite sand, ang 389 m
pesos ay hindi sapat.

 That nourishment project was a complete waste of people’s money because

it doesn't address the real issue which is the pollution of Manila bay. A
more appropriate step will be to relocate and rehabilitate squatters in Manila Bay
and all waterways leading to it. Then all sanitary effluent leading to it should be
treated so as to restore or bring back the bay to its pristine state. This can be
done through strict implementation of sewerage pollution control system such as
the building of “Sewage Treatment Plants” in every locality desposing their waste
to Pasig River and all tributary. Strict monitoring and legislation of anti-pollution
control mechanism should also be enacted.
 KALIWA DAM

What is Kaliwa dam?

 This dam in the Philippines is built for domestic water supply and to resolve
the serious water shortage in MetroManila.
 The Kaliwa Dam was first proposed by the national government under
President Marcos in the 1970s as part of an integrated system that included
another dam upstream, the Laiban Dam. It was decided to carry out the project in
stages and only a smaller lower Kaliwa Dam was approved during the
administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III with Japanese financing.
But the Aquino administration ended without the project getting started.
When President Duterte won in 2016, he decided to seek Chinese loan aid
for a full-sized Kaliwa Dam.

 President Duterte warned that he was ready to use his “extraordinary

powers” to build the dam which China has already agreed to fund with an
P18.7-billion loan. He said his concern is for the “greatest good for the
greatest number.”
 a project once called by the Pres. DU30 as "last resort”
 Metro Manila gets its water from the Angat and Ipo Dams. This last summer,
the Metro Manila Water District and private concessionaire Manila Water had to
ration the limited water supply for households in Eastern Metro Manila. The rainy
season last June ended the rationing but a few days ago, rationing was again
announced in view of the falling water level at Angat Dam.
 This brought the Kaliwa Dam – a proposed project that dates back to the
Marcos years – into the limelight.
 It was opposed by indigenous people of the Remontado and  Dumagat
tribes, whose lands and communities would go under water if the dam  should
be built, and they have now raised their voices anew against its construction.
 In the effort to provide sufficient water for Metro Manila, several other
sources are now being developed, including wells, Laguna de Bay, the old
Wawa dam, and private developers now required to save rain water. .

POSITIVE/ AGREE

Positive effect

- Reducing demands
- Job opportunity/ creating job
- Expected changes it comes to water supplies

 Yung Kaliwa Dam, kung ang ikinatatakot nila ay magkakaroon ng massive

deforestation, palagay ko hindi naman papayag ang ating departamento kung
masisira ang ating kagubatan diyan,” Leones said.
 According to Leones, DENR is taking care of Sierra Madre through law
enforcement, planting programs, and local communities’ assistance.
 “Sa aming pananaw, ito ay dumadaan sa masusing pagre-review. Sa mga
dapat nila i-comply, hangga’t maari, wala talagang masisirang mga puno at dapat
maigi ang konsultasyon na ginagawa,” he added.
 We have actually conducted three negotiations. Hindi naman ito isang beses
lang (It's not a one-time thing). It took us more than 5 years for Quezon to
actually convince these IPs," he added.
 Aside from talks with IP leaders for the FPIC, the government is also directly
negotiating with affected residents, who have expressed preference for a
"disturbance compensation" over relocation, Ayson said.
 The MWSS said they will provide housing and other resources for the
indigenous people who will be affected.
 NEGATIVE/ DISAGREE

 dapat nang ihinto ang mga mapanirang proyektong ito. Hindi kaunlaran, kundi
panganib ang idudulot nito sa taumbayan.
 It may cause an environmental hazard, Maraming maapektuhan na mga
agricultural establishments, ang kabundukan, The sierra madre and ofcourse
mas apektado rito ang mga katutubo, the indegenious people that will be surely
affected to this project.
 Lead to loss, this project could possibly affect or huge impact to the social,
cultural and economic activities of the communities. Isa na rito ung maraming
puno ang puputulin/ deforestation and a ground fracture may occur during
constructing of kaliwa dam project. Maraming ifs’ ang possibleng mangyari
habang under construction ang dam. Just like a natural disaster, we could
not predict what may happen next when disaster strike.
 Isa rin sa maapektuhan ang kinabubuhay ng mga tao, ayon sa latest data na
ginawad ni Eng. Ayson, 100 farmers stand to lose their livelihood. Na
magreresulta ng inflation sa mga lugar na maapektuhan,magmamahal ang mga
bilihin dahil sa kakulangan ng supplies at pagtaas nmn ng demand na sanhi ng
pagkawala ng hanap buhay ng mga magsasaka.
 The Kaliwa Dam project is a threat to the ecological systems and rich
biodiversity of the Sierra Madre mountain range. Based on their calculations,
the dam’s construction will potentially destroy the habitat of at least three
critically endangered species, 31 endangered species, and 240 vulnerable
species.
 Environmental groups also said the flooding caused by the project will displace
and kill species that live in the area.
 Besides being a threat to the ecological systems and biodiversity of the
Sierra Madre Mountain Range, the damming project will also endanger the
way of life of indigenous communities in the area. This is to say that living in
 relocation sites, characterized by repetitive architecture and confined spaces, is
unimaginable for the indigenous community who is accustomed to living in the
natural landscapes of the Sierra Madre Mountains.
 The project would submerge parts of General Nakar and Infanta in Quezon
Province. It would also affect the Sierra Madre in Tanay, Rizal, some groups
claim.
 The Haribon Foundation said the town of Infanta, which is a delta or a
landform created by deposition of sediment, might be erased from the map
if this project pushes through.
 According to the Environment department's Environmental and Management
Bureau (EMB), a total of 1,465 households in Quezon and Rizal will be
affected by the construction of the Kaliwa Dam. It will also "indirectly impact"
56 IP households and place around 284 more "at risk of flooding and other
effects of possible dam failure or dam break," the EMB's 2019 report read.
 But President Rodrigo Duterte said he is ready to use expropriation or the
police power of the state to put an end to water shortages, even if the
environment is at risk.
 This is the big Kaliwa Dam that is at the center of today’s controversy.  The
opposition of the indigenous tribes is only one of the issues. There is also
an environmental issue – the dam would affect some 12,000 hectares of
forest with 172 recorded plant species. The site is part of the Kaliwa
Watershed Forest Reserve protected as a wildlife sanctuary by Proclamation
573 in 1968. The dam would destroy the home of the endangered North
Philippine eagle, brown deer, and other Philippine species of wildlife.
 The 60-meter-high Kaliwa Dam will cover a surface area of 291 hectares within
Barangay Pagsangahan, General Nakar and Barangay Magsaysay, Infanta, both
in Quezon province. It also includes a 27.7-kilometer raw water conveyance
tunnel traversing from the dam's location to Teresa, Rizal. Portions of the project
area lie within the ancestral domain of the Dumagat-Remontado IPs.