Two nongovernmental organizations on Tuesday called on Tokyo to rethink its support for a dam under construction in the Philippines, saying assessments of the project's impact are flawed.
The government and Export-Import Bank of Japan should review the environmental and social effects of the project before continuing to support it, said Friends of the Earth Japan and the Institute for Alternative Community Development.
NGO representatives said a review of the two environmental impact assessments done on the project showed they inadequately address issues of water quality, sediment build-up, flood control and earthquakes. They contend these deficiencies could endanger the lives of locals and make the project economically unviable.
The Export-Import Bank of Japan approved a roughly $300 million loan for the project in October 1998, while about $150 million in loans was approved by a consortium of seven Japanese banks.