Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 5) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is looking into the possibility of suspending or reducing reclamation projects in Manila Bay pending the findings of the study on their environmental impact.
\”This process can take some time,\” Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga told reporters on Friday, referring to the DENR’s cumulative impact assessment on the reclamation activities.
\”So, what we are saying here is that the concern really would be to see whether we could basically maybe halt, minimize activities muna hanggang matapos itong [pending the conclusion of the] cumulative impact assessment,\” she added.
Under Executive Order No. 74 signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte, all proposals for reclamation projects shall be evaluated by the Philippine Reclamation Authority \”based on their cumulative impacts rather than on a specific project basis.\”
Loyzaga, however, said this was not done.
\”What has happened here is that individual projects were somehow processed without taking into consideration the cumulative impact of all the projects together on the bay system, and this is absolutely critical for the future use,\” she said.
According to the DENR chief, a team led by Filipino scientists will conduct the assessment with the help of foreign experts.
\”Until we can get a very good sense of what scientifically is going to happen in these areas and until we can get a very good sense of how the rule of law can be followed in this area, we want to proceed with much caution,\” Loyzaga stressed.
Concerns have been raised by some groups – and more recently, by the United States embassy in Manila – over the reclamation projects’ possible adverse effects on the environment.
The US also expressed concern over the projects’ ties to a Chinese firm, which it said helped Beijing construct and militarize artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea.
