The Phase 2 of the cumulative impact assessment (CIA) for Manila Bay reclamation projects remains ongoing, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said on Wednesday, Dec. 10.

In August 2023, President Marcos halted 21 major reclamation projects in Manila Bay indefinitely to allow a thorough review of their environmental impact and compliance with existing laws.

Asked whether Phase 2 has already been completed, DENR Secretary Raphael Lotilla clarified that the study is still in progress. 

“No, Phase 2 is ongoing,” he said during a media briefing at the agency’s central office in Quezon City.

The DENR chief said the number of reclamation companies allowed to continue operations has not changed since the lifting of suspension on select projects.

“No, the numbers have not changed,” he said. 

It can be recalled that two of the 21 reclamation projects in Manila Bay were allowed to continue, as they had already been reviewed, according to President Marcos. This means that 19 projects are still not allowed to continue their reclamation operations.

However, Lotilla did not disclose when Phase 2 of the CIA on Manila Bay reclamation projects will be completed.

It is worth noting that the result of Phase 1 of the CIA was released in April this year. 

Per Lotilla, the  Phase 1 of the assessment, which President Marcos ordered to evaluate the overall environmental effects of ongoing reclamation projects, was shared with local governments and private proponents last week. 

“As far as the cumulative impact assessment that was directed to be carried out by the President, so the first phase of that cumulative impact assessment was already carried out. And last week, the LGU proponents and their private sector joint venture partners were briefed on the results of the cumulative impact assessment,” he said.

He added that the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) will release additional requirements soon.

“And the Environmental Management Bureau is releasing soon the additional requirements that arose from the ECC requirements that arose from cumulative impact assessment,” said Lotilla.

Assistant Environment Secretary and concurrent EMB Director Jacqueline Caancan confirmed that only two reclamation projects along Manila Bay are currently allowed to proceed.

“So out of the reclamation projects along Manila Bay, so two are ongoing. The suspension has been lifted. And then, what we’re doing right now is looking at the results of the study, and then we do comparative analysis vis-a-vis the PIS submitted by the proponent, which was the basis of our PCC,” she said.

She added that gaps identified between the CIA and earlier submissions will require additional documents or mitigation plans.

“So we compare the results of the CIA with that. So what are missing, then we require some document or study that would be required from the proponent as well as the mitigating measures if the results would be addressed.”

Based on the findings of the Phase 1 CIA, the DENR said the study- - -completed with support from the Marine Environment and Resources Foundation (MERF)- - -showed that reclamation poses risks to Manila Bay’s fragile ecosystem.

Flooding in nearby communities may also get worse as reclamation increases backflow and the height of floodwater, oceanographer Charina Lyn Repollo of MERF warned.

“Reclamation will worsen flooding by increasing backflow and flood height. In the lowland areas, reclamation may increase both coastal and inland flooding. This is because reclamation impedes the flow of water into Manila Bay,” she stressed in her report.

The oceanographer said that water circulation is slowing down because of the ongoing reclamation, leading to more pollution in the inner areas of the bay.

As such, it noted that reclamation is threatening fisheries in Manila Bay by causing the loss of fishing grounds, destruction of fish habitats, and worsening water quality that could lead to red tide.