Fisher's group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) urged Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) Sec.Maria Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga to deny an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) for the 650-hectare Navotas Coastal Bay Reclamation Project, citing environmental and socio-economic reasons.

The reclamation project, of which the local government of Navotas is the primary proponent, would have disastrous effects on the ecology and the way of livelihood of more than a thousand fishermen and employees in mussel farms, according to Pamalakaya spokesperson Ronnel Arambulo.

“It should be a no-brainer for the DENR to reject reclamation, as it has been proven by many scientists and environmental experts to be catastrophic to the marine environment and natural resources,” he added.

The fishers group pointed out that the Navotas reclamation is in “total contrast” to the DENR’s mandate to protect the marine biodiversity of Manila Bay.

“We remind secretary Yulo-Loyzaga that rehabilitating Manila Bay never includes destructive reclamation projects. Without any reservation, she should deny the Navotas reclamation project an environmental permit and save the environment and livelihood of the affected fisherfolks,” the Pamalakaya spokesperson said.

“It was no less than the Supreme Court that mandated the DENR to lead several government agencies to rehabilitate and clean-up Manila Bay for the benefit of the fisherfolks and the people,” Arambulo was referring to the 2008 Supreme Court mandamus directing 13 government agencies, to be led by the DENR, to rehabilitate and restore Manila Bay for fishery resources development and recreational use.

Earlier, Pamalakaya appealed to the local government of Navotas to safeguard its residents’ way of life as fishermen as the city reportedly plans to dismantle over 200 mussel farms and other fishing structures, affecting around 1,000 local fishermen, mussel growers, and fish workers.