Residents of a quiet lakeside town in the northern Philippines staged an indignation rally on July 5 to protest the construction of a large-scale hydropower dam they say threatens their environment, livelihoods, and cultural heritage.
The protest in Pakil, a municipality in Laguna province about 100 kilometers southeast of Manila, drew hundreds of participants—including local residents, church leaders, environmental groups, and youth advocates—who marched through the town to denounce the Ahunan Dam project.
Tensions escalated after a tree-cutting operation was reported on June 21 atop the town’s forested hills, part of the Sierra Madre mountain range.
Locals claim the activity is linked to site preparations for the Ahunan Dam, a proposed 1,400-megawatt pumped-storage hydropower facility by Ahunan Power Inc.
While the company promotes the project as a renewable energy solution to help stabilize the national grid, opponents warn it could inflict irreversible damage on the Sierra Madre’s ecosystems, displace communities, and disrupt traditional livelihoods tied to fishing and farming.
Led by the network Mamamayang Nagmamahal sa Pakil (MaNaPak), the day began with a Mass at the historic St. Peter of Alcantara Parish Church. Protesters then marched to the local office of Ahunan Power Inc., where community representatives delivered a statement condemning the project.
Demonstrators cited the reported eviction of residents from Pinagkampohan, a village they say has been cleared for construction, and restrictions placed on farmers and fisherfolk who are now barred from accessing agricultural lands and fishing grounds around Laguna Lake.
“This is the people of Pakil rising up—together with neighboring towns and organizations from various places—to strengthen our advocacy, which is the protection of the environment,” said local resident Lina Naldo, who climbed the hills on June 21 to verify reports of logging.
“What has been happening in recent days is too much. They’ve been cutting down trees in the mountains without the proper permits and without following the correct procedures,” she added.
The rally ended at the town plaza with a solidarity program attended by the Diocese of San Pablo, students from Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba, and environmental coalitions from across the province.
Despite assurances from developers that the dam would generate clean energy, protesters said the risks to Pakil’s forests, biodiversity, and ancestral lands far outweigh any promised benefits.
Organizers said they will continue their resistance through legal action, community mobilization, and sustained public pressure.
