Cynthia Villar claims DENR chief ‘afraid’ of those behind Manila Bay reclamation projects

Senator Cynthia Villar on Wednesday claimed that Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga is "afraid" of influential people who are pushing for the reclamation projects in Manila Bay.

The lawmaker made the remark during the Senate public works committee hearing on flooding problems in the country.

“I talked to Secretary Loyzaga about this eh. Medyo takot siya kasi ang mga magre-reclaim mga influential sa Pilipinas. Natatakot siya being secretary… Sabi ko, huwag ka matakot. ‘Pag mali, mali. Kung tama, tama,” Villar said.

GMA News Online has reached out to the DENR for comment.

Villar raised her concern over the 21 Environmental Compliance Certificates that had been approved for reclamation activities.

“We have issued 21 ECC to reclaim Manila Bay na ang pinakamaliit is 300 hectare. Twenty-one times 300 hectares. Ano ‘yun, 7,000, 8,000 hectares of Manila Bay,” she said.

Villar also quizzed Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan on his department’s supposed silence on the possibility that reclamation projects in Manila Bay also cause flooding in several areas in the country.

She brought up the Zapote River Drive in Las Piñas, of which she was a proponent. Villar asked Bonoan if their efforts to clean "her" river would be effective if the reclamation projects block the waterways.

“I’m so lonely because after spending 12 years cleaning my river, isasara ng reclamation ang aking river. Hindi ba kami magfa-flood?” she asked, adding that this could be the same case for Bulacan.

“I’m asking you. I want your answer now because I’m not staying here forever. I just want to ask that question para linawin natin sa mga tao kasi maski sa press release niyo walang nagsasabi sa inyo na maybe part of the reason [of flooding] is the reclamation,” she added.

Instead of Bonoan answering the question, Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., who led the investigation, said there are good and bad reclamation projects and the country really needs a masterplan to address the problem of flooding.

He cited the cases of Dubai, Hong Kong and Macau where, he said, reclamation projects yield good effects.

Villar also said that she is still studying whether the Senate committee on environment and natural resources, which she chairs, will seek a hearing on these reclamation projects in Manila Bay as she lamented the lack of support from her colleagues.

“Wala masyadong nagsu-support ng anti-reclamation except me,” Villar said.

But Senator JV Ejercito said he shares Villar’s concern on the matter.

“You’re not alone in that position. I think a lot of senators share the same sentiments, especially with what is happening right now,” Ejercito said.

He also noted that the resolution filed by Senator Risa Hontiveros, which seeks to inquire into the massive reclamation in Manila Bay, has been referred to the Senate committee on housing and urban development, instead of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said they will change the referral of Hontiveros' resolution in today’s plenary session.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has already suspended all reclamation projects in Manila Bay except for one.

The president said these projects are under review because of problems in their implementation. — BM, GMA Integrated News