Only 3 ongoing Manila Bay reclamation projects affected by suspension –PRA

The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) said that only three ongoing projects are affected by the suspension of all 22 reclamation projects in Manila Bay as most of them are still under various stages of compliance.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa GTV on Saturday, PRA Assistant General Manager Joseph John Literal said the agency received the presidential directive suspending the reclamation projects that are under review.

Literal said the PRA already served the suspension notices to local government units (LGUs) implementing the projects, particularly the Metro Manila cities of Navotas, Manila, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas; as well as Bacoor City, and Cavite province.

“Ang ongoing na apektado talaga ay 3. 'Yung iba, nasa different stages pa ng compliance... Ang mga kumpanya na affected, mga 14,” he said.

Maps provided by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources show the three ongoing reclamation projects are Harbour City in Pasay, with 265 hectares of land allocated for institutions, condominiums, and hotels; a 390-hectare joint venture between the city and SM Prime Holdings; and the 318-hectare Manila Waterfront City project near the United States Embassy.

The Philippine Reclamation Authority lists 25 projects, including 13 that have already been approved.

This was echoed by Literal, saying, “Sa Manila Bay, 13 lang ang approved projects.”

The DENR map also showed seven projects are in the implementation or preparatory stage: the 650-hectare Navotas Coastal Bay project; the 419-hectare Horizon Manila project; the 148-hectare Manila Solar City project; Las Pinas-Parañaque Coastal Bay Project with over 431 and 203 hectares; and three reclamation projects in Bacoor, Cavite covering 90, 230, and 100 hectares.

Three have been approved: the 400-hectare City of Pearl Reclamation Project in Manila; the 844-hectare Manila-Cavite toll expressway reclamation project in Bacoor; and the 472-hectare Cavite four-island reclamation project.

Literal said the projects were approved because “they complied with the requirements pati sa side ng DENR na ECC (environmental compliance certificate) at area clearance.”

The DENR said it has been conducting cumulative impact assessments on the reclamation projects to demonstrate their effects on Manila Bay. — DVM, GMA Integrated News