DENR to evaluate ECC validity of Manila Bay reclamation projects

(Arnold Quizol/MANILA BULLETIN)

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is currently evaluating the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) of several reclamation efforts in the Manila Bay, particularly to see whether or not they already passed the validity of five years.

“We are looking into all those ECCs that have been issued as of date, to see whether in fact they have already passed the deadline,” DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga told the House Committee on Appropriations.

Loyzaga issued this remark following a concern raised by Northern Samar 1st district Rep. Paul Daza during the recent 2025 budget deliberations of the agency.

As indicated in DENR Administrative Order No. 30, released in 2003, the ECC of a project not implemented within five years from its date of issuance is already deemed expired.

However, according to Daza, there are some reclamation projects in the Manila Bay area that have been pending for five years and yet, their respective ECCs have not been revoked.

“In certain cases, you follow your rules. In some cases, you don’t. It’s arbitrary and it seems that there is something going on with your department,” the lawmaker said.

Daza specifically cited the case of the Horizon Manila project, which he claimed is at least seven years old and has not yet paid regulatory fees to the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA).

“You have too much discretion and that might need legislation in itself,” he stressed.

On the case of Horizon Manila, Loyzaga said it has recently indicated extension requests for its ECC, alongside other projects.

“There have been several that would have fallen due, but they have actually requested an extension and applied for that within the time they have allotted to apply,” she noted.

The DENR chief explained the applying for an ECC extension would require a renewed submission of necessary requirements given that environmental conditions in areas in question have faced “considerable change”.

There are over 20 projects that aim to reclaim hectares of land in Manila Bay. Environmental groups have blamed these efforts for the decline in fish populations, depletion of marine resources, and coastal and land erosion in the area.

“There is no automatic renewal. These are subject to the submission of certain requirements, including the reference to certain baseline data that were available in the first instance. However, that baseline has obviously changed,” said Loyzaga.

“Therefore, any consideration given to such extension request—provided it was submitted on time—will depend on new submissions regarding the environmental impact of the particular project,” she continued.