Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 2) — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday made clear that he is not involved with his family’s reclamation project in Manila Bay, which recently caused concern for the US Embassy.
The senator noted that the reclamation project was legal and underwent due process. Ako personally hindi ako connected dyan. Hindi ko nga alam kung ano yung mga activities. But I know for a fact na yung mga gantong reclamation project… lahat yan dumaan ng proseso,” said Gatchalian in a media forum.[Translation: I’m not connected there. I’m not even aware of their activities. But I know for a fact that these reclamation projects have undergone due process.] US Embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay on Monday said they are in constant communication with the Philippine government about how the projects could potentially negatively impact the environment.It also raised concerns over the involvement of a Chinese company in the projects. Gatchalian, however, maintained that the project has received approvals from concerned government agencies. So my point of the matter there is that dumaan na yan sa proseso. Unfair naman sa mga gumagawa nito… Unfair naman na binigyan na sila ng permit tapos ngayon ka lang magrereklamo,” he said. [Translation: So my point of the matter there is that it underwent the process. This is unfair to those who are building this…It’s unfair that they were given permit then you will suddenly complain about it.]The reclamation project by the Gatchalians’ Waterfront Manila Premier Development Inc. aims to build residential and commercial buildings, anchored on a casino entertainment complex. It has a 300-meter setback from Luneta, 250 meters from the US Embassy and “sufficient buffer zone” from other proposed reclamation projects.
