MANILA – Opposition lawmakers have urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to suspend the Manila Bay rehabilitation as there is a need to study the impact on the livelihood of poor sectors.
In House Resolution No. 2452, the Makabayan bloc said the rehab must be halted “until a comprehensive and holistic study on the socio-economic impact on affected marginalized sectors has been diligently carried out.”
Among the petitioners were Anakpawis representative Ariel Casilao, Bayan Muna representative Carlos Zarate, ACT Teachers representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro, Gabriela representatives Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan representative Sarah Elago.
The lawmakers argued that the rehabilitation would cause around 40 reclamation projects, leading to the displacement of some 250,000 informal settlers living along the coastline and waterways of the bay.
“We ask the DENR to postpone or suspend the execution of the Manila Bay rehabilitation until a comprehensive and holistic study on the socio-economic impact on the affected marginalized sectors has been diligently carried out,” the petitioners said.
“There is a need to draft a genuine and democratic program that will sincerely rehabilitate Manila Bay without infringing on the basic rights to livelihood and adequate standard of living of marginalized sectors,” they added.
The lawmakers also claimed that the rehabilitation program could be a “prelude to 43 reclamation projects covering more than 32,000 hectares in the bay under the Build, Build, Build program.”
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), meanwhile, said in a statement that the rehabilitation cannot be suspended since Manila Bay is in “critical condition.”
“Actually, the bay is in ICU (intensive care unit). We cannot afford an additional day of delay. Giving in to Makabayan will only make matters much worse,” DILG secretary Jonathan Malaya said.
He added: “Instead of asking for a postponement, the Makabayan bloc should instead do their part in helping the government fight the ‘Battle of Manila Bay.’ The administration has exercised the political will to do what is right. Now it’s our turn to do our part.”
Malaya also denied the lawmakers fears that the rehabilitation program could not be a prelude to 43 reclamation projects covering more than 32,000 hectares in the bay under the Build, Build, Build program.
“Again, this is clearly misinformation. There is no place for reclamation in the rehabilitation program. In fact, Secretary [Eduardo] Año is personally opposed to reclamation projects,” Malaya said.
The planned rehabilitation of Manila Bay would be in three phases – clean-up and water quality improvement, rehabilitation, and protection and sustainability./PN
