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TUESDAY, FEBruARY 12, 2OI9
House panel questions impact
of Manila Bay reclamation
THE HoUSE committee on Metro
lYanila Development on Monday
raised conrems about the Manila
Bay cleanup, questioning plans for
further redamation.
'There are many possibly
destructlve effects of the planned
reclamation." Buhav Party-list Rep.
Jose L, Atienza, Jr told the Philippine
*eclamation Authority (PRA) during
the committee meeting 0n thestatus
of the l*lanila Bay rehabilitation.
Mr. Atienza, a former Secretary
of the Department ot Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR),,cited
as an example reclamation projects
affeding Navotas City.
"Before and after the Dagat-
Dagatan area was reclaimed, Nav0tas
never flooded, but now Navotas al-
ways exp€riences flooding," he said.
ln response, the PRA argued it
ensures the Authority streens recla-
mation projects and flags question-
able plans that may have a negative
impact on the environment.
"We also have our own environ-
ment department. We attend
hearings, we even sit in the review
rommittee of DENR to carefully
scrutinize the environm€ntal impacts
as presented in the environmental
impactstudy of each particular rec-
lamati0n proponent," PRA Assistant
General llanager for Land Develop-
ment, Conslruction and Technical
Sewices .Joselito D. Gonzales told
the panel.
"We study and analyze allsci€n-
tific data;we study and analyze all
modellings, storm surges, Ilquifac-
\ FAgs- *t/€"
ffi$/5
tion, Iand subsidence, all negative
isues. lf by any chance we see there
is something wrong, orsomething
not in accordance with internalstan-'
dards orscientific data, by allmeans,
we have the power to reject or not
issue a noticeto proceed," he said.
The PRA reported that ther€ are
22 pending reclamation projects
in l'lanila Bay, at varying siagesof
approval, cov€ring about 20,000
hectares.
The PRA said reclamation
projects help protect coastlines and
generate employment.
"ln Pasav City, Solaire employs
5,500people, while city of Dreams
employs 4,500 people, while 0kada
Manila employs nearly 8,000. And
that's just from three casino{esorts,"
PRA Assistant 14anager.for Reclama-
tion and Requlation Joselit0John 14.
Literalsaid in the same hearlng.
'Another benefit of reclamation
is coastal defense, ifthe project is
well-designed, which wele making
sure of," he added.
l'larikina-lst District Rep. Bayani
F. Fernando proposed that the re-
claimed area be zoned for industrial
us€, instead of residentialor com-
mercialspace.
"From what l'veseen in other
countries. they reclaim the sea more
for industrialuse, not for residen-
tial," Mr Bayani, who also chaiIs
the Committee on public works
r'They
and highways, said. reclaim
areas mostly for industrial to take
advantage of the sea fdr transportl'
- chamalne A. Tadalrn