Metro Infanta Foundation

A continuous emergence of grassroots citizenry, not necessarily vying for elected position is gaining foothold however, in their drive for sustaining hope with government. Regional and sectoral coalition of stakeholders along the borders of Sierra Madre, known as Save Sierra Madre Network (SMM) are striving to prevent loggers and miners escalate their rampant desecration of the environment in this part of Luzon.

Spearheaded by Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca in the north down to Aurora, Bulacan and Quezon in the south, Task Force Sierra Madre Chair. Fr. Pete Montallana lead Quezon in the enlarged initiative. Representatives from various ethnic tribes, NGOs, religious and Miriam College are among those considered comprising the vigilant core. Interestingly, an independent and investigative body directed and aimed towards DENR seemed to be a priority within this beleaguered agency. No less than both the President and Sec. Atienza abide with this idea during the audience with them a year ago. Again, this proposal has been reiterated in this initiative. One can speculate and imagine that embarking on this task has a potential deep impact on its own insidious influence and control. And yet, it seem strange that the bulk of the $57M World Bank loan they started drawing since 2007 is for carrying out their mandated functions and responsibilities. Have they not been given enough to secure their ever growing creation, Dr. Frankenstein?

Incidentally and again involving Northern Quezon, the issue about Laiban Dam Project on Kanan River is coming back again, this time under the banner of Danding Cojuanco conglomerate. Along with MWSS, San Miguel Bulk Water
Co. will joint venture to build and operate the dam. It will be the first privatepublic joint venture of the P52-billion magnitude. Strange as it may seem, its mechanism is on the fast track considering the following shrouded events:
MWSS has barely "issued any press releases or statements at all about its invitation for rival joint-venture offers." Within a span of 1 week, MWSS announced (July 2) and invited applicants to submit eligibility to this project (July 8);
On July 2 cryptic newspaper, MWSS announce it has already "received and accepted an unsolicited proposal" for Laiban Dam though not mentioning San Miguel; Provisions of a newly adapted guidelines on joint ventures implied that MWSS "has successfully completed negotiations with San Miguel on terms and conditions of the joint venture. If the new bidders fail to make a better proposal, the contract will automatically go to San Miguel. If the new bidders offer a better proposal and San Miguel matches it, San Miguel still wins; Surrounding events of this negotiations are unheared of between Manila water concessioners Manila Water Co. and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. The fact that it has reached the "third of a three-stage process for negotiated joint venture agreements" were surprising; As a refresher, the Laiban Dam project was the focus of Task Force Sierra Madre's signature campaign in 2007. Main objection was to preserve environmental resources and to protect residents from dangers of building dams a few kilometers away from earthquake fissures. More than 40,000 signatures were gathered to oppose the project.

During the same year, negotiations were initiated with Export-Import Bank of China for a $910-million project loan with a Chinese state firm as lender, contractor and supplier. Simultaneously, a kickback scandal on a $330-million
supply deal for National Broadband Network erupted thereby prompting the President to scuttle Laiban project. Early last year, an American company CalEnergy entered into a memorandum of understanding with MWSS to conduct joint studies on Laiban to decide whether to submit unsolicited proposal for the dam. It came close to signing the deal
during one of the President's trip to the US but for unexplained reasons, it decided not to push through the project. Shortly thereafter, San Miguel came into the scene and submitted unsolicited proposal in February 2009. Currently, negotiations are completed with San Miguel the successful bidder and assuming that no other moneyed investors stepped into the rush by July 8, 2009.

This current development are so disappointing in human terms. I am particularly concerned with the people of Real, Infanta and Gen. Nakar. There is now a renewed and more powerful Goliath, another onslaught by a mighty force, the nemesis of our basic aspirations, i.e., to live in peace and in harmony with nature but now seemed to be vanishing like mist.

The Laiban Dam project is now much more invincible in the hands of Cojuangco, his resources and the built-in mechanism of its plan implementation. The name alone encompass anybody who needs to inscribe their signature to documents immunizing the project from viral competition. Closely tied with this spherical connections are his business conglomerates that provide the pipeline for smooth financing flow. Like a professional crap player, he has place bets on 6 & 8; two number that has low odds, adequately hedged and suffiently bankrolled to withstand all " 7 " dice throwers around the table. Sooner of later, his turn for payback is certain. Added to these are tailored/customized rules, guidelines and regulations to suit a one-way track transactions.

As of now I am really uncertain on any headway to confront Goliath headon. I honestly believe though that my odds against him is only as much as my faith in Him. I have read and was told that if I could only have faith as big as a mustard seed, sooner or later, a payback may also be in the waiting.