KALIKASAN PEOPLE’S NETWORK FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
PRESS RELEASE
September 7, 2023
Green groups push for ‘clear guidelines’ for Manila Bay reclamation suspension, one month after announcement
Environmental and fisherfolk groups trooped to Mendiola on September 7 to mark one month since the verbal announcement of President Marcos Jr. suspending reclamation projects across Manila Bay.
The groups, as part of the People’s Network for the Integrity of Coastal Habitats and Ecosystems, urged the president to release “clear guidelines” of the suspension through an executive order, stating that the lack of any written document is a key factor behind the reports of continued reclamation and dredging in the bay area.
“It’s been one month since Marcos Jr. promised change in Manila Bay, and yet reclamation is still taking place across the bay,” said Jon Bonifacio, national coordinator of Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment. “We need an executive order now to clarify the timeline and coverage of the suspension order, and also implement measures to hold those circumventing the suspension order accountable.”
Reclamation projects in Manila Bay have recently been scrutinized for their reported negative impacts on ecosystems and communities. Civil society groups have documented how reclamation projects have displaced fisherfolk as well as worsened flooding in some areas around Manila Bay.
Kalikasan PNE also noted that controversial projects such as the New Manila International Airport (NMIA) appear to have bypassed the suspension order, which they said “betrays the spirit of the impact assessment process being carried out.” The project proponents, San Miguel Corporation, have argued that they are not doing reclamation, but rather land development, in the area.
“It makes little sense that major projects such as the NMIA in Bulacan appear to be excluded from the suspension order. While we can argue about technicalities and definitions, the fact remains that the project is one of the largest in the bay and is drastically altering the ecosystem,” said Bonifacio. “If we are genuinely concerned about Manila Bay, these kinds of projects must be put on hold pending a thorough and independent assessment.”
In their protest action, the groups also expressed concern over the recent abduction of anti-reclamation advocates Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano in Bataan last September 2, and called on the Marcos Jr. administration to quickly investigate the issue. Castro and Tamano were on their way to a community consultation when they were abducted by armed individuals. #
Contact:
Jon Bonifacio / National Coordinator, Kalikasan PNE
[email protected] / 0939 913 6943
