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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Erwin Tulfo airs serious concerns on Manila Bay reclamation project, calls for House probe

Erwin Tulfo airs serious concerns on Manila Bay reclamation project, calls for House probe

Published Aug 8, 2023 09:13 am

At A Glance

  • Citing concerns from the United States (US), ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo is urging the House of Representatives to investigate the status of the Manila Bay reclamation project, particularly its impact on national security and the environment. 

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Manila Bay reclamation (Contributed photo)

 

 

 

 

Citing concerns from the United States (US), ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo is urging the House of Representatives to investigate the status of the Manila Bay reclamation project, particularly its impact on national security and the environment. 

For this purpose, Tulfo filed on Tuesday, Aug. 8 House Resolution (HR) No. 1171, which prods the House Committees on National Defense and Security, and on Ecology, among others, to look into the controversial project. 

"Recently the [US] government has expressed concerns over the potential negative long-term and irreversible impacts on the environment and resilience to natural hazards of the reclamation projects in Manila Bay," the measure read. 

"The [US] also raised concerns that the reclamation project have ties to the China Communications Construction Co. (CCC), which was cited by the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for engaging in fraudulent business practices," added Tulfo, a popular broadcaster. 

In this regard, the neophyte solon said that a "comprehensive inquiry, in aid of legislation" was in order. 

In pursuing the House probe, Tulfo says he is also echoing the sentiments of Speaker Martin Romualdez, who wants to know who is in charge of keeping an eye on all these Chinese vessels involved in the reclamation. 

Speaking to House reporters on Tuesday afternoon, the party-list solon expressed worries over the possibility that the workers from these vessels could be members of the China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) 

The PLA is the principal military force of China and the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). 

He said these personalities could be gathering intelligence already from local vital installations.

 

"Tapos yung reports pa na natanggap natin na yung isang company diyan, yung CCC (And then we received these reports that one company there, the CCC), was involved in the construction of the airbase, in the naval base of China in the West Philippine Sea," Tulfo said. 

He noted that the situation is "ironic" given that the CCC is now working on a project in Manila Bay.

 

According to Tulfo, there are around 100 Chinese vessels conducting the reclamation in Manila Bay, which each vessel estimate to have a crew of 30. 

“As of last count almost 100 na sila diyan, kung tig-30 katao ‘yan eh di 3,000 na (There are almost 100 vessels there, if there are 30 people in each of them, then that makes 3,000). The Speaker is wondering who is watching these people, monitoring [them]. Ito ba ay (Is it the) Coast Guard, or ito ay (or is it the) Bureau of Immigration (BI)?” he added. 

“At may mga balita si Speaker na nakakababa sila, nagu-good time, nagna-nightclub. pupunta diyan sa may MOA (Mall of Asia), kumakain sa mga Chinese restaurant dahil sinusundo at hinahatid sila ng mga pump boats (And the Speaker received news that they alight from the vessels to have a good time, to go to nightclubs.They go to MOA to eat at Chinese restaurants and they are sent fetched and sent there via pump boats)," he further said.

 

 

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Erwin Tulfo Manila Bay reclamation project ACT-CIS Party-list
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