President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said during a situation briefing in Malolos City, Bulacan last Monday, Aug. 7, that all reclamation projects have been suspended and are “under review.”
He lamented how the sea has disappeared from Roxas Boulevard as he took note of several problems in the reclamation projects at the famed Manila Bay.
Manila Bay reclamation (Contributed photo)
“Iyong isa lang ang natuloy dahil na-review na. Maraming problema. Marami kaming nakita na hindi masyadong magandang patakbo (Only one project pushed through because it has been reviewed already. There are many problems. We saw many that are being mismanaged),” he added, though not naming the one project that pushed through.
The President admitted that the reclamation projects at Manila Bay, which is famous for its sunset, is another “big problem” that the government needs to address because it would block rivers.
“Wala na ngang ano—yung Roxas Boulevard, wala na ‘yung dagat, mawawala ‘yung dagat (There is no—in Roxas Boulevard, the sea is gone, the sea will be gone),” he added.
His comments came after Bulacan 5th District Rep. Ambrosio Cruz Jr. said during the situation briefing that the “engineering intervention” might be insufficient as the flooding in Bulacan province recently was caused by the water’s inability to reach the sea.
His proposed measure, House Bill 3148, or “An Act Establishing a Manila Bay Integrated Flood Control Coastal Defense and Expressway,” aims to address these issues.
“Kasi ang tinitingnan ho namin dun, tumaas nga ho ‘yung water level ng ocean level. Pangalawa rito, pagbaha naman, nagsasalubong ho iyon (Because what we are looking at here, the water level of ocean level rose. Second, the flooding also it converged),” the lawmaker said.
“So, apparently, it would appear na hindi sufficient ‘yung engineering intervention para ma-prevent ang flooding na ito (the engineering intervention is not sufficient to prevent this flooding).”
Earlier, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said that the agency was assembling a team of scientists and experts for a cumulative impact assessment of the Manila Bay reclamation projects.
Marcos’ comments also came amid concerns raised by the United States Embassy in Manila about the ecological impact of the rehabilitation project.
The embassy raised concerns over the involvement of a Chinese company in the projects.
"We are also concerned that the projects have ties to the China Communications Construction Co., which has been added to the US Department of Commerce's Entity List for its role in helping the Chinese military construct and militarize artificial islands in the South China Sea," the embassy said.
"The company has also been cited by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank for engaging in fraudulent business practices," it added.
At least 5,000 hectares of Manila Bay will be needed for the total of 13 reclamation projects that have been approved by the previous administration.