An advocacy group criticized a plan to transfer the management of the Angat Dam to private power companies, saying that private firm-controlled water allocation for irrigation and domestic use could only worsen the situation.

The Water for the People Network (WPN) Tuesday said the water sector, instead of private power companies, should take the lead in managing the facilities of the Angat Dam.

The group issued the statement during a roundtable discussion last Tuesday at the University of the Philippines-Diliman on the planned privatization of the Angat Dam, which is set to be bid out next month.

The privatization of the Angat Dam forms part of the implementation of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) of 2001.

At present, the dam is being managed by the National Power Corp. (Napocor).

The Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM), which under EPIRA was formed to dispose the assets of Napocor, had scheduled the bidding of Angat’s hydropower facilities on April 28.

But the WPN said the PSALM must stop the bidding.

The Commission on Human Rights en banc led by chairperson Leila de Lima maintained that the “right to water is more fundamental and primary over the need for power” and advised government to “always consider paramount the most basic resources necessary and indispensable for human survival, which include water.”

WPN said water supply for irrigation and domestic use has been declining in recent months due to the El Niño phenomenon and has been particularly harsh on the vulnerable sectors, a situation which small farmers and poor consumers fear will worsen if the privatization of Angat Dam pushes through.

The WPN said that whoever controls the hydropower facilities of the Angat Dam also effectively controls the dam’s water allocation.