Members of the fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) stood their ground on Friday, Aug. 26, as they air their collective objection against reclamation projects in the country.
Carrying their banners and shared opposition on “destructive” reclamation projects, the fishers’ group protested in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Central Office on early Friday morning.
Reclamation pertains to the act of creating new land form in oceans, seas, and riverbeds.
“eclamation projects displace us from our livelihood and destroy the environment. We are expecting that Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga will heed our science-based opposition against reclamation,” said Pamalakaya National Spokesperson Ronnel Arambulo during the protest.
Meanwhile, Pamalakaya urged the agency to refrain from granting environmental compliance certificates (ECC) to reclamation projects such as that in Manila Bay.
“Reclamation is on the opposite track of Manila Bay rehabilitation program which is supposed to bring back its abundant fishery and marine resources. Reclamation effectively destroys marine biodiversity and fishery resources,” Arambulo underscored.
Projects like these, according to Pamalakaya, does not only harm the environment but also lead to the mass eviction of fishermen in the country – a domino effect that contributes to the burden of lesser production of fish in the Philippines.
With these things in mind , fisherfolk representatives will tackle “genuine” rehabilitation efforts with DENR officials in hopes of restoring the country’s abundant fishery resources.