Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment
Press Statement
February 22, 2025
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has finally admitted what fisherfolk and environmental defenders have been saying: reclamation is causing destruction to Manila Bay.
The DENR’s recent acknowledgment of reclamation’s devastating impact on Manila Bay underscores a critical flaw in our current system: it heavily favors business interests over environmental and public welfare. This belated recognition, forced by persistent public outcry, reveals the reactive nature of our environmental policies.
DENR Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga confirmed that a study by the UP Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) has verified the permanent damage to the bay’s ecosystems caused by dredging and excavation. This is not new information—for years, affected communities have been warning about the devastation these projects bring to livelihoods, marine biodiversity, and flood control.
The damning report, which directly links flooding in Metro Manila, disrupted water circulation, and the destruction of critical coastal habitats to ongoing reclamation projects. It also indicts reclamation proponents for having no concrete plans to mitigate possible disasters—no flood management, no solutions for increased traffic, no sustainable sources for water and power, and no waste disposal systems.
Despite mounting evidence, the Marcos Jr. administration remains complicit in refusing to cancel reclamation projects outright, ignoring scientific proof and lived experiences of fisherfolk and coastal communities. This has enabled corporate plunderers to profit from the devastation of our seas and the displacement of our people.
The government must immediately release the complete findings of the UP-MSI study and take decisive action based on scientific evidence. There is no room for half-measures or delays while large-scale reclamation projects continue unchecked, causing irreversible environmental and socio-economic damage. The DENR must take responsibility by revoking all environmental permits for these destructive projects and implementing a just and sustainable coastal protection plan.
Furthermore, we demand immediate and fair compensation for the losses and damages suffered by communities, livelihoods, and ecosystems due to current reclamation projects. Companies responsible for destroying fish spawning grounds and mussel farms and displacing fisherfolk must be held accountable and provide just compensation. This compensation should cover not only the direct economic losses but also the long-term impacts on the marine environment and coastal communities’ way of life.
The fight for Manila Bay, our environment, and the rights of communities is far from over. The people will not back down in the face of corporate greed and environmental destruction. Our commitment to defending our seas, livelihoods, and future remains unwavering. The people demand justice, compensation, and a sustainable future for Manila Bay and all affected coastal areas.#
