Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 25) — A fishers group on Saturday urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to speed up its cumulative impact assessment of the reclamation projects in Manila Bay.
The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) said the DENR’s evaluation – which could be completed in a year – is “taking too long.”
“There is an urgent need to totally stop every single reclamation project in Manila Bay and immediately carry out a complete rehabilitation and restoration of its degraded ecosystems,” the group stressed.
“Why is the DENR taking too long to conduct its cumulative impact assessment on reclamation when there are already available studies and evidence of its irreversible damages?” it added.
In a House panel briefing, the DENR said it can provide an initial report on its cumulative impact assessment in the next six months.
The department earlier said “roughly 22” reclamation projects in Manila Bay are under review and suspended indefinitely.
“Sa kabila ng kautusang pansamantalang isuspinde ang reklamasyon, marami pa rin naman ang nagpapatuloy na proyekto lalo sa lalawigan ng Bulacan, Bataan, at ilang bayan sa National Capital Region,” PAMALAKAYA said.
[Translation: Despite the suspension order, there are still many reclamation projects ongoing especially in Bulacan, Bataan, and some areas in the National Capital Region.]
“Dapat din tingnan ng DENR ang mga kumpanyang hindi nagsuspinde ng operasyon habang isinasagawa ang cumulative assessment, at papanagutin ang mga mapapatunayang lumabag,” it added.
[Translation: The DENR should also investigate companies that did not suspend their operations while the cumulative assessment is ongoing, and hold them accountable.]
The DENR said the assessment of the activities in Manila Bay is two-pronged – a performance review on compliance with environmental laws, and a cumulative impact assessment.
