Fishermen from Cavite, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Navotas, and Bulacan conduct a fluvial protest, calling for their welfare and livelihood amid an ongoing reclamation project happening in front of the Philippine Senate in Pasay City on February 28, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News 

MANILA — The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) on Wednesday said it is expecting the resumption of two more reclamation projects along Manila Bay within this quarter or the next.

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These are the 90-hectare reclamation project in Bacoor, Cavite and the 30-hectare reclamation project by the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority in Navotas, which seeks to expand the city’s fish port in a bid to boost food security.

According to PRA Assistant General Manager for Reclamation and Regulation Joseph Literal, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) may soon come out with the results of its compliance review for these projects.

“Based on our latest meeting with the DENR, upcoming na po. I think tapos na rin po ‘yong kanilang evaluation and investigation and siguro soon we’d get a written recommendation na for the lifting of the suspension,” said Literal during a press conference in Makati City.

Back in August last year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the suspension of all reclamation projects in Manila Bay while the DENR conducted a cumulative impact assessment on them.

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The suspension came about as environmental groups raised the alarm on the damage that reclamation projects will cause to marine habitats as well as to coastal communities that rely on the sea for their livelihood.

Out of the 16 projects that were suspended, so far only two have been allowed to continue: the 265-hectare Pasay Harbor City Reclamation Project and the SM Prime Reclamation Project. The DENR noted that the projects are fully aligned with the agency’s guidelines.

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Literal said the local government of Pasay City plans to develop these reclamation sites into a booming business district, but free of casinos.

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“There’s an ordinance ng Pasay right now na no new casinos will be developed within reclamation projects so ang target po nito ngayon are new businesses, first class universities, hospitals and the others that you cannot find sa existing reclamation areas,” he said. 

Aside from the reclamation project in Bacoor and the expansion of the Navotas Fish Port, the PRA hopes the 148-hectare Manila Solar City and the 650-hectare Navotas Coastal Bay Reclamation and Development Project will also be greenlighted this year.

“Malaki itong sa Navotas. Kapag natuloy siya, this is the biggest within Manila Bay. We’re expecting developments dito because eto yung katabing-katabi ng Bulacan Airport. Magiging support facility na siya,” said Literal.

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Literal said these projects will bring in lots of revenues for the government and would raise further the PRA’s total unaudited asset value which, as it stands, is already at P150 billion.

DREDGING ACTIVITIES DESPITE SUSPENSION ORDER?

Meanwhile, fisherfolk group PAMALAKAYA have complained about ongoing dredging activities in Cavite despite the suspension order for the reclamation project there.

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Literal explained that such activities are not under the PRA’s control.

“Yung dredging activity sa Cavite, nahahati yun sa dalawa e. One is for PRA reclamation projects, the other one is for the Bulacan airport. So hindi covered ng suspension yung sa Bulacan airport because they’re not classified as reclamation projects within Manila Bay. The ECC (Environmental Compliance Certificate) itself stated that it’s a land development project. Yun po yung nagco-continue,” he said.

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He also guaranteed assistance for the coastal communities in Bacoor and other sectors who will be directly and indirectly affected by the reclamation activities. According to PAMALAKAYA, about a thousand fisherfolk families are at risk of being displaced.

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“Aside from yung mga improvement, yung binibigay naming training tsaka mga gears, fishing gears na kailangan nila tsaka mga safety equipment needs nila, we also provide like trainings and livelihood (assistance),” he said.

“Meron kaming career enhancement para sa family na pwedeng at least ma-invite or maging employed ng reclamation projects na ito once the commercial aspect or the economic activities would commence in these reclamation projects,” he added.

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