Dams threaten to cut Mekong rice supply
A brewing controversy in Southeast Asia threatens rice sufficiency in the Philippines and her neighbouring countries. The Mekong rice basket is at risk from infrastructure developments on the river, a lifeline for millions in the region.
Laos and Cambodia are neighbours. They share a history as former colonies of France which left behind words, architecture and, enviably, cuisine. Laos is situated north of Cambodia and the river, the great Mekong that feeds Cambodia, only does so after satisfying the needs of Laos. In other words, Laotians get to “drink” its life-giving waters first, before Cambodians. The same mighty channel irrigates the vast rice lands of Vietnam and Thailand, which are the grain basket of Southeast Asia. Filipinos largely depend for their daily glucose shots on Thailand and Vietnam.
Finding a way to share the resource-rich Mekong remains one of Southeast Asia’s most elusive goals.
“Eleven dams are planned on the lower stretch of the river,” notes Kirk Herbertson of NGO International Rivers.
Kirk reports that, “These dams would bring their proponents a great deal of revenue, but would threaten the food security of millions of people, most of whom would never see the benefits of the dams. Back in 1995, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam signed a treaty to create the Mekong River Commission (MRC), whose mission is to promote shared use of the river. The MRC’s first big test came in 2010 after Laos proposed to build the Xayaburi Dam. The consultations did not resolve disagreements over the project, and in 2012, Laos and Thailand defied neighbouring governments and decided to proceed with the dam, despite ongoing opposition from Cambodia and Vietnam. Early work is now beginning in Laos on the second Mekong hydropower project, called the Don Sahong Dam. With two projects underway at speeds faster than the MRC diplomatic process can manage, the future of Mekong cooperation is uncertain. There is a risk that the dispute over the Mekong dams will escalate: not everyone can win, and the tradeoffs will be enormous. Billions of dollars are at stake, but so are the livelihoods of millions of people.”
Disputes on river infrastructure arise not only from the inter-state dependency on the Mekong but also from the biological integrity and sustainable management of the basin’s terrestrial and freshwater resources. These issues confront the Mekong countries.
The Philippines should be on the lookout for developments in the Mekong dam projects because they will impact its food security. While there is still time, Manila should consider alternatives in addressing a potential decline in rice production in Thailand and Vietnam, and therefore higher rice prices. Dispute over sharing of their most important freshwater resource could easily develop into a full-blown water crisis in Mekong countries. And that would likely mean strangulation of supply of a staple food source for Filipinos. Rice shortage and a spike in rice prices would spell trouble for the Philippines and create an opportunity for importers and public officials out to make a fast buck.
Frank E Lobrigo practised law for 20 years. He is a law lecturer at San Beda College Graduate School of Law in Manila.
