It was proposed by the Philippine government way back in 2012, the Kaliwa Dam Project is one of numerous bulk water supply projects on the upper portion of the Kaliwa River Watershed. The government has been eyeing this area since the 1970s. Still, most of its proposed water supply projects have since been shelved because of environmental concerns, opposition from the indigenous people living in the area, or both.

Sierra Madre's forests provide fresh water to residents of Metro Manila, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Quirino, Aurora, Quezon, Rizal, Laguna and Bulacan. Sierra Madre also stabilizes the water flow and soil to prevent typhoon-related calamities.This year, our country was threatened by Super Typhoon "Karding," with maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) and predicted to reach gusts of up to 230 kph. However, Karding significantly slowed down as it traversed Sierra Madre. Once again, the mountain range's large surface area of slopes and curves weakened the typhoon.

The Kaliwa Dam Project is not ethical, nor is it legal. It will infringe on so many people’s rights. It will endanger many flora and fauna, not to mention leave permanent environmental damage on the Sierra Madre mountain range. At its core, this water supply scheme, which should be a solution to Manila’s water supply problems, threatens the environment and the people.