Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 23) — The City of Manila has no objections and is willing to pursue the resumption of suspended reclamation activities in Manila Bay, its representatives said in a House panel briefing Thursday.
According to the city’s lawyers who attended the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means hearing, Mayor Honey Lacuña and Environment Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga are set to meet and tackle the suspended activities.After presentations of Pasay Harbor City Corp., Waterfront Manila Premier Development Inc. and SM Holdings – proponents of the reclamation activities, panel chair and Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda concluded that the projects have “no adverse impacts” on the environment.“Basically, with respect to climate change and all the other disaster hazard, there is no adverse impact,” he said.There is enough evidence already that where there is reclamation there are no floods,” Salceda said, citing data from Project NOAH, an independent disaster risk reduction and management program in the country.The presentation included master plans of building eco-cities using sustainable and green architecture. The corporations also laid out all environmental permits acquired as proof of compliance.Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it will still conduct a technical conference to evaluate compliance of all proponents before endorsing the resumption of activities to the Office of the President.
Lawmakers, environmental groups, and even foreign diplomats have called for a stop to the reclamation, citing environmental damage and a project contractor’s possible ties to China.
In August, the President announced that all reclamation projects have been suspended except one which has finished review.
