Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 2) — Reclamation projects in Manila Bay should factor in the impact of the so-called “Big One,” or a possible destructive magnitude 7.2 earthquake from the movement of the West Valley Fault, a Cabinet official said on Wednesday.
While the projects may contribute to the economy, their ecological impact must be studied, Environment Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said in a Palace briefing.
\”I think what’s important is reclamation has a certain value, obviously, in terms of the economy,\” the secretary said. \”However, we need to do the cost benefit analysis in terms of the impact to the ecology and the long-term impact in terms of possibly what could result from climate change.\”
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has been conducting a cumulative impact assessment on Manila Bay reclamation projects. The agency said local scientists will be involved in the review.
\”On the geological hazards, so far, ang nakikita ko ngayon [what I see now] in terms of the studies that I have looked at for the reclamation projects is the reference to the 7.2 movement sa [of the] West Valley Fault,\” Loyzaga said.
\”Mayroon po tayong tinatawag na Manila Trench, ito po ay nandiyan sa Manila Bay [We have the Manila Trench, which is in Manila Bay]. That is the geological event that we should be looking at in terms of a generation of a potential tsunami,\” she added.
According to a 2004 study by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake hitting Metro Manila could lead to the collapse of 40% of residential areas, and cause 34,000 deaths and 114,000 injuries.
