DENR chief: Reclamation projects negatively affect water flow in Manila Bay

Amid concerns regarding the impact of ongoing reclamation projects in Manila Bay, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loygaza on Thursday said that such initiatives negatively affect natural waterways.

Yulo-Loygaza made the statement at a Senate inquiry into the persistent flooding in the country when asked by Senator Joel Villanueva to update them with the interim results of the impact assessment on reclamation projects which are currently being undertaken by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

"In general, any change, geometrically, physically, in terms of infrastructure that's introduced will change the way the bay behaves. Secondly, reclamation projects will slow down the flow of water and the change actually so far in our model runs, has been for the negative," Yulo-Loyzaga told the Senate committe on public works.

Further, the DENR chief said the water quality will also change, which will affect the implementation of the 2008 mandamus order of the Supreme Court for the rehabilitation and preservation of Manila Bay.

"With the model runs that we are actually undertaking, there will be an ecological cost and economic cost to introducing anything into Manila Bay in relation to the implementation of mandamus ruling. The question that we now have in terms of the different scenarios that will be possible, is who will pay for that additional burden in terms of the achievement of the mandamus order," Yulo-Loygaza said.

The DENR chief mentioned that one of the most critical components in trying to address the environmental impacts of reclamation projects is to work and coordinate with the major stakeholders, including the private sector.

Yulo-Loygaza shared that the SM Group's creation of a 400-meter channel between the seawall and the island near their properties along Manila Bay.

"They are implementing this now as part of engineering solution to the issue of circulation," the DENR chief said.  

Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. said that without this channel, nearby areas might be flooded.

Also, the San Miguel group is working with the DENR, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the local governments of Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite and Navotas to address the floodwaters coming from the inland by dredging the rivers without any cost to the government.

"There has been considerable impact of the dredging of the rivers by the private sector, specifically the San Miguel Group who have done so without charging the government," she shared.

Last May, environmental groups Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) and Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment lodged a complaint with the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) and the DENR regarding the the ongoing reclamation and dredging operations in Manila Bay.

The two groups asked the PRA and the DENR to lay out relocation plans for communities that are affected by the projects as well as for the agencies to provide several reports related to their activities.

Several senators pointed to the reclamation projects in Manila Bay as one of the causes of flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Senator Joel Villanueva was one of them and raised the issue of reclamation projects in Manila Bay during the hearing.

"May kurot na sa puso 'pag tumingin ka sa Manila Bay kasi, again wala na e, 'yung Manila sands parang naging Suez Canal na 'tong Manila Bay," Villanueva said.

(It's painful to look at Manila Bay because, again, there's nothing there. The Manila sands on Manila Bay look like the Suez Canal.)

Last week, the country was hit by Super Typhoon Carina and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon or Habagat. Floods, swollen rivers, landslides, and soil erosion, among others, were reported in different areas, resulting in loss of lives and damage to property.

Due to this, a state of calamity has been declared in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces. — VDV, GMA Integrated News