Any proposed reclamation, including the issue of flooding, will be subjected to a thorough appraisal by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other agencies of the government.

This was the reply of Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez to the claim of Sen. Cynthia Villar that the proposed project of the city government at the coast of Manila Bay will cause flooding in nearby areas.

"The assessment, determination and all technical parameters of any proposed reclamation will also be subjected to investigation and checking not only by the DENR but also by the Department of Public Works and Highways whose chief is the son of the senator," Olivarez added.  

On Friday (Sept. 25), Villar asserted that the reclamation project being pushed by the Paranaque City government would cause flooding in Cavite, Las Pinas including Paranaque and will destroy 35 hectares of mangrove forest along Manila Bay.

Villar claimed the Parañaque reclamation project was reportedly not considered when this was planned.

Olivarez pointed out that no reclamation project can be implemented without first complying with all the technical requirements of the law.

"No reclamation project can also be declared without approved policies and issuance of the government, otherwise, the said proposed project is doomed for denial and therefore should not be implemented," Olivarez explained.

The 287-hectare proposed artificial island will be built along the coast of Manila Bay fronting the coastal barangays of Baclaran, Tambo, La Huerta, Don Galo, and San Dionisio within the territorial jurisdiction of Paranaque.

In addition,Olivarez said, three inland barangays -- Moonwalk, Sto.Nino and Vitalez are also included.

 "Natural lang na hindi natin itutuloy ang reclamation project kung sakaling babahain lang naman ang mga nasabing barangay sa aming lungsod at ang lalawigan ng Cavite at buong Las Pinas," (It’s but natural that we will not push through with the project if it will cause flooding in our barangays including Cavite and Las Pinas City),” Olivarez said and insisted that flooding will be prevented by the Imus, Cavite catchment basin.

The reclamation will consist of one island with approximately 950-meter distance from the nearest corner of the reclamation layout to the nearest shoreline of Manila Bay, which is also a reclaimed land, the Bayshore Complex.

According to Olivarez, the environmental impact statement (EIS) report has been prepared to serve as a requirement application for an environment compliance certificate (ECC) for the proposed project.

The ECC application covers only the horizontal development or the reclamation of land, including the construction of access ways.