Fisherfolk air out grievances on Manila Bay reclamation projects; PRA responds

Fisherfolk from cities surrounding Manila Bay, like Las Piñas, Pasay, Parañaque, and Cavite, have aired out their grievances amid the ongoing reclamation project in the area. 

In the latest episode of "Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho," the multi-awarded broadcast journalist Jessica Soho interviewed local fisherfolk about their struggle as large dredgers and sea vessels encroached upon their fishing grounds to make way for the development of  a modern city.

Vicente, a fisherman from Las Piñas, had worked in the seas of Pasay and Cavite for nearly 40 years. But in 2020, when the DENR approved the 320-hectare Bacoor Reclamation and Development Project, he was barred from fishing.

"Sobra-sobra po ang epekto sa amin ng reclamation. Unang-una po 'yung aming kabuhayan. Halos maglugaw na lang kami kasi wala na," the fisherman said.

["The reclamation hit us hard, especially our livelihood. We're down to eating porridge since there's nothing left."]

Tatay Vic shared that he used to have around 300 sapra fishing traps in Cavite, where he could catch up to 20 tubs of anchovies in a single night, earning around 30,000 pesos.

Vic's fishing traps were dismantled due to the reclamation, cutting his income by 50% and leaving the coastal area destroyed.

"Naidudulog na lang po namin kaso ang katwiran, wala na daw silang magagawa. Proyekto ng national gobyerno."

["We tried to seek assistance from the local authorities, but they said they couldn't do anything since it was a national government project."]

Amy, a fish vendor in Manila Bay, echoed concerns about her income and livelihood. She started her sapra in 2010, earning P20,000 daily, but business plummeted when it was dismantled.

"Manghihina ka kasi kawawa 'yung mga tauhan namin na walang ipaparte sa kanila. Ang benta nga namin kanina nasa 2-plus lang," she said.

["You will be left helpless because we have nothing left to give our workers. Our sales earlier were just over 2,000."]

Magdalena and her husband struggled to adapt after their fish pens were buried, leading to her husband's stress-induced high blood pressure as they were forced to relocate to the shoreline.

With this, she called on those in power for help.

"Sana bigyan po kami ng puwang diyan sa pinaghahanapbuhayan namin. Huwag silang tambak nang tambak," she said. "Kung para lang din naman sa mga mayayaman, sana huwag nang sa tubig kasi kami rin naman ang nagdadala ng pagkain sa mga mayayaman. "

["We hope they give us space for our livelihoods. They can't just keep doing this. If this project is for the rich, I wish the reclamation wouldn't damage the waters. We're the ones providing food for them."]

Jeffrey, a fisherman from Paranaque, was relocated after getting affected by the reclamation.

"Pumayag naman ako kasi kailangan nila ng kalsada. Nilipat kami sa Cavite, may P18,000," he said.

["I agreed because they needed access to that  road. They relocated us to Cavite and gave us P18,000."]

However, he was unable to find work there and eventually moved back to Parañaque. Since his old home was demolished, he now resides in a floating house made of borrowed materials, lacking basic comforts like pillows and blankets. His daily catch and income have also dropped by half, and sometimes he returns with nothing at all. 

"Ipaglalaban sana namin dito ang aming kinukuhaan na hanapbuhay. Kaya lang sa gobyerno 'yun, wala tayong magagawa eh. Ang akin lang, kung matulungan lang sana kami," he said.

["We want to fight for this because our livelihood is at stake. But since it's a government project, there's nothing we can do. All I ask  is some form of help."]

What is happening in Manila Bay?

In the 1970s, 660 hectares of Manila Bay were reclaimed for the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex and commercial developments.

In 1993, City Ordinance 7777, which disallows any form of reclamation in Manila Bay, was passed. This was lifted in 2011 and projects were given the green light. 

In 2023, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. put a stop to more than 20 reclamation projects. The DENR has also been executing cumulative impact assessments to find out the effects of the reclamation. 

After three months, projects resumed, including the 265-hectare Pasay Harbor City Reclamation Project for a modern waterfront city and the 360-hectare Pasay Reclamation Project for eco-friendly commercial and residential spaces.

Approximately 199,400 hectares and spanning several cities, Manila Bay is a rich sardine spawning ground. It also used to be in the Top 10 fishing grounds in the Philippines given its rich ecosystem.

Manila Bay now has man-made islands near fisherfolk's sapra and piles of sand for land creation. The reclamation projects threaten to destroy corals, seagrass, and mangroves, disrupting fish habitats and growth.

Reclamation effects

According to a study by Kelvin Rodolfo, a geologist and Professor Emeritus of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois, the Manila Bay reclamation projects would greatly affect residents as they would cause land collapse, quick rise of sea water, land erosion, and flooding.

A Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) survey also revealed that the Manila Bay reclamation is not feasible because of the water's narrow pathways. If covered, it will cause flooding.

In an interview, Atty. Joseph John Literal of the Philippine Reclamation Authority said that land is being created in Manila Bay for more space.

"Ang rason talaga ay dahil sa tulad po dito sa Manila Bay, congested na eh," he said. "Kulang na ng area, kulang ng land, ng real estate and also 'yung urban sprawl. Kasi bukod doon sa limited space, dumadami ang mga tao. So we need space, we need economic movement."

["The real reason for these projects is the congestion. There's a shortage of space,real estate, and there's also urban sprawl. With more people, we need more space for economic movement."]

Given the environmental concerns, Atty. Literal stated that before a reclamation project is approved, the PRA requires an environmental compliance certificate from the Environmental Management Bureau and an area clearance from the DENR Secretary. He emphasized the importance of stakeholder consultations to address environmental, social, cultural, and historical issues.

Atty. Literal added that the law requires remediation and decrease or mitigation of environmental impact.

Regarding the fisherfolk's concern that the flow of water and the sea creatures are being affected by the reclamation, Atty. Literal admitted that the large dredging vessels are loud and disruptive, but that they would rehabilitate the area afterwards.

"Siyempre 'yung activity ng pagkuha ng buhangin, makaka-disperse ng mga isda doon sa paligid. We are expecting kasama 'yun sa mga kondisyon ng permits na after a while dapat ma-rehabilitate mo 'yung area," he said.

["Of course, the activity of sand extraction will disperse the fish in the area. We expect that part of the permit includes a requirement to rehabilitate the area afterward."]

Literal emphasized that they monitored the fisherfolk's benefits after their income was impacted by the reclamation, noting the need for interventions like artificial reefs and mangrove planting, as required by the Environmental Management Bureau and Mines and Geosciences Bureau, to help them recover.

"Parte po 'yun ng dapat namin ma-monitor, 'yung compliance na 'yan ng mga proponents saka mga developer. Pero we'll see to it po," he said. "'Yung nakarating naman din po sa amin 'yan, we will sit down with the LGU and also the proponent kung ano ang puwede pang maihatid na tulong para ma-bridge po 'yung loss of income po nila."

["That's part of what we need to monitor—the compliance of the developers. We will meet with the LGU and the proponent to find ways to help bridge their loss of income."]

Literal added that the PRA and other government agencies' goal is to provide new livelihood opportunities for those affected by the reclamation, "but completely different from their traditional fishing." —JCB, GMA Integrated News