No need for reclamation.

That, in a nutshell, was the clear message of Senator Cynthia Villar to all and sundry when she appeared as guest of the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel on July 31, 2024.

She joined other senators and the public in clamoring for an end to reclamation, especially in Manila Bay — the only viable outlet for floodwater in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces.

The July 24 flooding sparked a heated debate anew on what caused the deluge, with many pointing fingers to the reclamation projects in Manila Bay as a major culprit. While the objective of these projects is to create more land for development to boost the economy, these may inadvertently be contributing to the worsening flood situation. As Villar said, there is no need for reclamation as unutilized lands are aplenty in the provinces and ready to be tapped for development.

In fact, some senators believe that reclamation is one of the factors that caused the latest flooding.

For instance, former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri believes that the massive flooding on July 24 is “the consequence of all the reclamation happening in Manila Bay; there is no outlet for flood water here in Pasay and Manila. It will always result in flooding every time it rains heavily.”

The former Senate president has a point. While most of the reclamation projects in Manila Bay have been suspended upon the order of President Marcos in 2023, it can’t be denied that a huge volume of filling materials have already been dumped into these projects. Thus, it impedes floodwater inland from freely emptying into the bay.

Besides, filling materials for reclamation contribute to the rising sea level. In the context of reclamation projects, large volumes of earth and construction materials are dumped into the bay, displacing water equal to its volume — that is the Archimedes principle. This displaced water has to go somewhere, and often it ends up flooding nearby low-lying areas like Manila and neighboring cities and provinces.

Aside from contributing to the rising sea level, reclamation projects often involve the alteration or destruction of natural waterways and wetlands that act as natural drainage systems. These ecosystems absorb excess rainwater and help mitigate flooding. When they are replaced with concrete and other impermeable surfaces such as roads and buildings, the water has fewer places to go. These surfaces prevent water from seeping into the ground, resulting in increased surface runoff. During heavy rains, like the massive rains dumped by Super Typhoon Carina-induced “habagat,” this runoff can overwhelm existing drainage systems, leading to floods.

The devastating impact of these reclamation projects is exacerbated by climate change, a major factor in the rising sea levels. Higher sea levels mean there is less capacity for water in coastal areas, making them more prone to flooding. Reclamation projects can further reduce this capacity, compounding the problem.

With the devastating effects of floods, it’s time for the government to revisit the state policy on reclamation, particularly in Manila Bay. Sen. Villar and her colleagues in the Senate could help craft a new policy.

Crucial here is for the government to balance economic development with environmental sustainability. Concerned agencies should get their acts together as soon as possible before another deluge strikes.