Las Piñas mayoral candidate Carlo Aguilar strongly voiced his opposition to the controversial reclamation projects in Manila Bay, saying that they pose serious threats to the environment, coastal communities, and the long-term safety of Metro Manila residents, particularly those in flood-prone areas.

Aguilar said the planned reclamation activities, which involve dumping soil and filling parts of the bay to create artificial land for commercial use, are “irresponsible, unsustainable, and dangerous.”

He emphasized that Las Piñas, one of the southernmost cities in Metro Manila, stands to suffer some of the worst flooding impacts from these projects.

The mayoral candidate said the reclamation projects will bring not progress, but disaster.

Aguilar warned that the expansion of land into the bay would block natural water flow, reduce drainage capacity, and worsen flooding  not only in coastal cities like Las Piñas but across the southern portion of the National Capital Region.

He backed his position with scientific data, citing the findings of Phase 1 of the Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) commissioned by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The CIA concluded that ongoing and proposed reclamation projects in Manila Bay could lead to a wide range of adverse impacts, including severe flooding, destruction of marine biodiversity, declining fish populations, increased public health risks, and long-term coastal erosion.

“Scientific findings should not be ignored or dismissed to make way for profit-driven projects,” Aguilar said. “We should be using this data as a guide on how to protect and rehabilitate Manila Bay—not destroy it.”

Aguilar expressed his solidarity with environmental groups and coastal communities that have long opposed reclamation.

He reiterated his position which has taken a firm stand against the projects: “No to reclamation. No to displacement. Yes to sustainable development.”

The mayoral candidate also urged both local and national leaders to consider the human impact of reclamation on coastal dwellers, including fisherfolk and informal settlers who risk losing their homes and livelihoods.