Sen. Cynthia Villar (Senate PRIB Photo)
Senator Cynthia Villar wants the Supreme Court (SC) to step in and stop the ongoing Manila Bay reclamation project.
As chairperson of the Senate Environment Committee, Villar also said she would call for a Senate inquiry into the project.
On Dec. 18, 2008, the Supreme Court issued SC Mandamus on Manila Bay (G.R. 171947-48) directing 13 government agencies to clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay, and restore and maintain its waters to SB level to make them fit for swimming, skin-diving, and other forms of contact recreation.
Villar emphasized that there were no consultations on the project but that officials concerned just ‘’signed and signed’’ the contract papers.
"Yan ang pinagawayan natin ni Director Honrado at (former Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy) Cimatu bigay sila ng bigay ng ECC (environmental certificate of compliance). (We had a fight with Honrado and Cimatu over their issuance of ECCs. Di sila nag-aaral ano effect nyan long-term (They did not undertake studies on its long-term effect) Look at Jakarta now, it is underwater, baka ganun mangyari sa atin (We might experience the same thing as Jakarta),’’ she pointed out.
‘’The Manila Bay is ours, owned by government and people bakit makikinabang ang private sector yang outlet ng water natin coming from cities, municipalities and provinces (why should the private sector benefit. It is the outlet of water coming from the cities, municipalities and provinces),’’ she said.
The lady legislator from Las Piñas city said waters from the upland areas of Cavite flow from Las Piñas to Manila Bay.
‘’I always fought against the reclamation of Manila Bay,’’ she added.
Villar recalled that there were orders suspending the reclamation project.
‘’Kaya lang mga nagagagwa matitigas nag ulo ayaw tumigil sana pumara muna at makita ano permanent damage sa metro manila para di rin sila magkagasta baka gagawa sila tapos aayusin damage (They were hardheaded and they continued with the project. The should see the permanent damage to Metro Manila but they kept on spending)," she added.