All 22 of the Duterte administration-approved reclamation projects in Manila Bay are suspended, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said on Thursday, Aug. 10.

Manila Bay reclamation (Contributed photo)

The official said that upon clarification with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who said on Wednesday that one project was allowed to push through, all current projects at Manila Bay are under review.

“The declaration is really that all of these projects are suspended at this point. So, all are under review. We have to take our time, really beginning with those that are ongoing, because they are in fact, already impacting the areas. And then, we will graduate to those that are in fact, still not yet begun,” she told reporters during a Palace press briefing.

“As soon as the President speaks, I think that will be in effect,” she added when asked if the order is in effect since there were still reclamation projects in the bay.

But also upon prodding, Loyzaga revealed that these projects were approved during the Duterte administration.

“Lahat po ito (All of these) had been previously approved under the PRA (Philippine Reclamation Authority) in the previous administration,” she said.

Asked if she was referring to former president Rodrigo Duterte, the official answered, “Yes.”

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is currently in the process of assembling a team of scientists and experts for a cumulative assessment of the environmental impact of the reclamation activities at Manila Bay in view of the flooding that happened in Bulacan and Pampanga recently.

Loyzaga said the contractors for the 22 projects will be made aware of the “compliance review,” with some of them already written to by the agency.

“So regardless of whether suspended sila or hindi, gagawin namin ang review for compliance ‘no (they are suspended or not, we will conduct the review for compliance),” she added.