More than a thousand residents of Pakil, Laguna, together with church-based organizations, youth, farmers, fisherfolk, and environmental defenders, marched on July 5 to express their strong opposition to the Ahunan Dam construction. The protesters marched from the Saint Peter of Alcantara Parish Church to the office of Ahunan Power Inc., where they read a statement of unity and the people’s outrage.
The opposition of Pakil residents reignited after the incident of tree-cutting on Mt. Ping-as on June 21, carried out to prepare the area for the dam project. Devotees regard Mt. Ping-as as sacred and as an important part of the annual “Ahunan” or pilgrimage as a vow to the Virgin of Turumba. Beyond its cultural value, the mountain and springs of Pakil provide the townspeople with clean water, irrigation, and livelihood. Residents say that cutting down trees in this area will certainly cause landslides and flooding. Government agencies themselves recognize the area as high-risk for this type of project.
One of the main issues emphasized by the protesters concerns the forced eviction of residents of Sitio Pinagkampohan to make way for dam construction. Many lost their homes and livelihoods, and the company provided no clear relocation or compensation. At the same time, farmers complain about being prohibited from their rice fields and from entering nearby forests, while fisherfolk are no longer allowed to fish in some parts of Laguna Lake covered by the project. Families dependent on agriculture and fishing have severely lost livelihood and source of food.
Groups also strongly denounced the human rights violations and intimidation experienced by community leaders opposing the project. Some, like Daisy Macapanpan, face fabricated charges, and there are reports of harassment and the spread of disinformation to deceive residents into selling their land at low prices. Mamamayang Nagmamahal sa Pakil (MaNaPak) leaders said the dam project clearly serves only the interests of big business and not the welfare of the people of Pakil and Laguna.
Pakil residents also fear the complete erasure of their rich traditions and culture, especially the Turumba and Ahunan in Ping-as, which devotees from various places visit each year. The springs, considered miraculous and a source of water, are at risk of being buried and lost. Environmental groups also highlight that this type of project worsens the climate crisis, as it destroys forests and watersheds that serve as protection against floods and drought.
The protesters called on the local and national government, especially the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to review and revoke the contract with Ahunan Power Inc. They also urged all Filipinos to join and support the fight for the environment, livelihood, and culture of Pakil.
