PAKIL, Laguna — Residents of Pakil, Laguna are raising their voices against the Ahunan Dam project, claiming it poses serious threats to the Sierra Madre mountains and Laguna de Bay. According to local advocacy groups, the project was initially approved and promoted under the previous administration despite clear environmental and livelihood risks to the surrounding communities.

Through protests and prayer walks, residents have expressed their strong opposition to a project that began planning as early as 2020. They argue that the dam has already led to logging, encroachment on ancestral lands, and restrictions on the livelihoods of local farmers and fisherfolk. “We are demanding accountability from those who approved this project and calling for its immediate halt before more damage is done,” said a local organizer.

The situation highlights a recurring challenge in development planning: the balance—or imbalance—between infrastructure projects and environmental protection. While dams can provide water management, hydroelectric power, and flood mitigation, poorly planned projects risk destroying ecosystems, displacing communities, and disrupting traditional ways of life. The controversy also underscores questions of transparency and public consultation: how often are communities genuinely consulted before major projects are greenlit? The Ahunan Dam debate is more than a local dispute; it reflects a national tension between development and sustainability. As Pakil residents mobilize, the question remains: Should economic projects proceed if they compromise the environment and the livelihoods of those who call it home? (Larawan: Laguna Report News / Facebook)