Dams and Development
Philippines In-Country Workshop
ADB Headquarters, Manila, Philippines: 30 August 2001
Workshop Results
|
The one-day workshop was attended by delegates from Philippine Government Agencies, NGO representatives and ADB Staff.
This workshop was organized by ADB mainly to review in what areas ADB and Philippines policies differ from those in the World Commission on Dams (WCD) Report, and try to formulate a strategy for bridging those gaps that would lead to better projects in the future.
It was noted that most of the guidelines as proposed by the WCD are embodied in the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System which is being continuously modified to adapt to the changing times, mainly in consideration of the people who are being affected by the dam projects. The Philippines Government Representative also stressed that public consultation, including with NGOs, is mandatory for all dams projects.
There was an appeal from the NGOs to all (Filipino) development scientists that when choosing projects, consideration should be given not only to the least cost and maximum benefit it would give to the country but also whether or not the framework of development will yield a better life to the Filipino people.
A challenge was put forward to the NGOs to have a mutual partnership with the Government on equal terms to identify recommendations and concrete actions that would achieve greater benefits for dam or non-dam projects.
The Chairman remarked that this one-day workshop is not enough to be able to conclude and set-up a resolution on how to go forward. It was agreed that each agency and NGOs will draft their own responses to the WCD guidelines, prepare an agenda, and organize internal meetings with the Department of Energy as lead, and prepare a joint response. ADB will then call a second meeting to discuss the joint response with all participants who attended the first workshop.
ADB is proposing to conduct similar conferences in other countries to be able to develop resolutions unique and tailor-made to each country.
- Read the Summary of Proceedings[ PDF ]
- View Papers and Presentations [ PDF ]
|
ADB held an introductory workshop at its headquarters in February 2001, with participants from 15 member countries to discuss the World Commission on Dams (WCD) Report: "Dams and Development". Amongst the conclusions from this workshop was a notion that in-country workshops would be a useful next step in developing national strategies for planning future projects.
The long-term objective of the Workshop is to encourage Government agencies to improve their planning and implementation processes for major water resource projects.
For the Government agencies to determine the degree of uniformity in the laws, rules, and regulations under which each agency plans, designs, and implements major water resource projects.
A comparison of the governments' current practices with the seven strategic priorities and the 26 guidelines in the WCD report and an assessment of how significant differences could be resolved.
Participation is by invitation only
- Agenda
- Participants
- Summary of Proceedings
- Opening Remarks, Preben Nielsen, Deputy Director, Infrastructure, Energy and Financial Sectors Department (Region West), ADB
- ADB's Response to the WCD Guidelines, Robert Dobias, NGO Network Coordinator, ADB
- Study of Large Dams and Recommended Practices, Ranji Casinader, Consultant, ADB RETA 5828
- People's Declaration Against Large Dams, Philippine NGOs
- Dam Construction and Development in the Philippines, Victor Isidro, Head, Mini-Hydro Division, Department of Energy.
Read paper and presentation.
Meng Roque / Teng Olofernes
Workshop Secretariat
Tel: (632) 632-5805
Email: croque@adb.org / tolofernes@adb.org
Media Center 
Top of page