Written by
Charlie V. Manalo
Sunday, 13 January 2013 00:00 [
tribune.net.ph ]
Groups
opposed to large-scale reclamation along Manila Bay yesterday warned that
Central Luzon would soon become a region of great floods and storm surges
comparable to the Great Deluge in the Holy Bible if the national government
will pursue the reclamation of more than 13,000 hectares of coastal areas in
the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga and Bataan under the National Reclamation
Plan (NRP) of the Philippine Reclamation Authority or the PRA.
In a joint
press statement, the activist fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang
Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), Anakpawis party-list, Manila Bay
chapter, the National Capital Region based Sagip Manila Bay Movement, Save
Freedom Island Movement and Koalisyon Kontra Kumbersyon ng Manila Bay or KKK-Manila
Bay said unless revoked, the massive reclamation of coastal areas in the region
will put Central Luzon in the global map as a Philippine region highly prone to
huge floods, storm surges and irreparable damage during strong typhoons.
Pamalakaya
national chairman and Anakpawis party-list No.1 nominee Fernando Hicap noted
that 4,500 hectares of coastal areas covered by Manila Bay in Pampanga will be
reclaimed for the Pampanga Bay Integrated Development Project. The fisherfolk
leader said the government through the PRA will also reclaim 1,317 hectares in
the adjacent area of Malabon and Obando, Bulacan and another 5,574 hectares of
coastal waters in the municipalities of Malolos, Paombong and Hagonoy, all in
Bulacan province.
Hicap said
another 2,054 hectares will be reclaimed in the coastal towns of Bataan
province. All in all, about 13,770 hectares of coastal areas will be reclaimed
in Central Luzon based on NRP of the PRA.
The Anakpawis
party-list nominee also noted that in November last year, President Aquino
revoked an administrative order issued during the past administration for a
reclamation project in Pampanga Bay, at the same time creating an inter-agency
body to facilitate the comprehensive study and planning of an integrated
development project in Pampanga Bay.
But
Pamalakaya, Anakpawis and other opposition groups noted that the Aquino
government under NRP will still pursue reclamation of 4,500 hectares of coastal
waters in the municipalities of Lubao, Sasmuan and Macabebe.
Pamalakaya
and Anakpawis also warned Aquino of a looming “Battle of Manila Bay” against
his administration if PRA will push the reclamation projects in Central Luzon
and other parts of Manila Bay.
The NRP
includes the controversial P14-billion Las Piñas-Parañaque reclamation project,
of which a petition of Writ of Kalikasan was filed by the former Las Piñas Rep.
Cynthia Villar and more than 315,000 residents of the city filed before the
Supreme Court and currently being tackled by Court of Appeals.
“An
across-the-Manila Bay revolt to be headed by small fisherfolk and marginalized
residents of Manila Bay is not a remote possibility if the PRA, which is under
the Office of the President, will push through with its plans to reclaim the
bay at the expense of people’s livelihood, social justice and sustainable
environment,” the groups said.
According to
Pamalakaya, marginal fishermen have been complaining of declining fish catch
from an average of five kilos to 10 kilos per fishing trip prior to the
reclamation and road project to two to three kilos of average fish catch due to
the negative impact of reclamation and road infrastructures along Bacoor Bay.
Pamalakaya
and other anti-reclamation groups also protested the plan of the Manila
government to reclaim 144 hectares of coastal areas in the city which will
cover portions of Manila Yacht Club and the US Embassy in Manila.
Other groups,
including SOS Manila Bay, also protested the planned reclamation in the main
capital because the construction of huge buildings in Manila will prevent the public
from viewing the famous Manila Bay sunset.
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