Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 10) — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) clarified on Thursday that all reclamation projects in Manila Bay are suspended, contrary to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s earlier statement that one was allowed to push through.
“Actually po upon clarification with the president, and as you will see in the suspension (order), all are under review,” Environment Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said in a Palace briefing.
According to the DENR chief, there are “roughly” 22 projects being evaluated.
Asked to confirm if the suspension is already in effect following reports that some reclamation activities were still ongoing as of Wednesday, Loyzaga said, “As soon as the president speaks, I think that will be in effect.”
On Monday, Marcos announced that all reclamation projects have been suspended, except one which has finished review. Loyzaga clarified, however, that the suspension order was issued only after the president made such a statement. She said while the DENR has indeed begun assessing the projects, it doesn’t have the authority to suspend them.
Loyzaga also noted that some companies have yet to be formally notified of the directive.
\”The 22 projects will be written to,\” she said. \”Some of them have already been written to, on the part of DENR, in terms of the compliance review. So, regardless of whether suspended sila or hindi, gagawin namin ang review for compliance [So, regardless of whether the projects were suspended or not, we will conduct the review for compliance].”
It is not yet clear when the suspension will be lifted.
“We have to take our time, really beginning with those (projects) that are ongoing because they are in fact already impacting the areas. And then we will graduate to those that [have], in fact, still not yet begun,” Loyzaga explained.
The Environment secretary also said that while she cannot speak for the president as to why he decided to halt the operations, Marcos “has been aware of the economic, environmental, social impacts of the reclamation.”
Concerns have been raised by some groups over the projects’ potential adverse effects on the environment.
