The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) announced that the Kaliwa Dam project in Teresa, Rizal is currently 22% complete.
At least 340 meters of tunnel outlet portals near the Sierra Madre mountain range have been dug with a target date of completion in 2026 and operational in 2027.
"We cannot afford to have a delay in this project. Ano yan eh, 22 kilometers so kailangang mahabang time ang kailangan. Sa dalawang component ng kaliwa Dam project, yung critical path niya is the tunneling," MWSS administrator Leonor Cleofas said in an interview.
The said project is a 63-meter-high reservoir that can provide 600 million liters of water per day to 20 million consumers n Metro Manila and neighboring areas.
China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC) has funded over 85% of the more than P12 billion New Centennial Water Supply (Kaliwa Dam Project).
Meanwhile, groups opposing the project believe it will harm 291 hectares of the watershed, jeopardize 172 plant species, disrupt animal habitats, and exacerbate the effects of climate change.
However, MWSS assured that the project was aimed to keep towns around the dam site in General Nakar, Quezon from being drowned.
"Sa lahat po ng project na merong environmental compliance certificate ang MWSS po as project proponent ay required na mag-put up ng environmental guarantee fund," Cleofas added.
