Manila Bay reclamation opposed
Residents of Baseco compound in Tondo, along with fisherfolk and environmental groups, marched to Manila City Hall Monday morning to protest the four Manila Bay reclamation projects that have allegedly been approved by city hall.
Protesters claimed that around 100,000 residents will be displaced and lose their livelihood to the reclamation project that will cover an estimated 1,342 hectares of Manila Bay.
The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said the project includes the 50hectare expansion of the existing Manila Harbour Centre proposed by R-II Builders, Inc., another 50-hectare
Baseco Rehabilitation & Development Inc. (BRADI) reclamation project, 40-hectare Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) reclamation project, and 407-hectare City of Pearl reclamation project proposed by Chinese-owned UAA Kinming Development Corporation.
The said projects had reportedly been approved by the city government.
“The consistent effort of the government and volunteers from grassroots sectors will be useless and futile if large part of Manila Bay will be reclaimed and giant establishments will be installed afterwards,” Pamalakaya national chairman Fernando Hicap said.
“This is far from the rehabilitation that we have expected; displacing us from our community in exchange for big-ticket infrastructure projects that would inflict more damage to Manila Bay’s marine ecosystem and biodiversity. The rehabilitation we have been upholding ever since was the revival of mangrove forests and seagrasses that serve as fish habitat and sanctuaries,” he added.
The group defended the informal settler families from the claim of government that they are the main source of pollution for lack of proper sanitation and septic tank, saying this is only a reflection of a chronic poverty that they experience.
“They can’t even afford to have a decent housing, how could the government expect a proper sanitation then? Relocating them away from their source of livelihood will never be the solution to uplift their lives. Most of them are fisherfolk who subsist in Manila Bay by fishing or catching mussel shells (tahong),” Hicap said.
“There is a whopping 143-billion budget for the rehabilitation of Manila Bay. It is more than enough to provide proper sanitation and solid waste management to communities instead of wiping them out for reclamation projects,” he added.
Reclamation-free zone
“Bogus ang kaunlaran na sinasabi ng pamahalaan dahil sa ilalim ng reclamation program nito, libo-libong pamilya ang mapapalayas (The development which the government is advocating is a sham because thousands of families will be evicted under this reclamation program)," said Alexander Rosales, spokesman of Manila Urban Poor Network.
“Lumalabas ngayon na parte ng reklamasyon ang ginagawang rehabilitasyon sa Manila Bay para lalong akitin ang mga investor at mga negosyante para mamuhunan sa itatayong proyekto na iilan lamang ang makikinabang (It now appears that the rehabilitation of Manila Bay is part of the reclamation project to attract investors and businessmen to invest in the projects that will only benefit a few people)," he added.
The project, they said will result in severe flooding.
Because of this, Nilad Environmental Network urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to declare Manila Bay a reclamation-free zone and urged the agency to be transparent in its rehabilitation master plan.
"We expressed alarm over the real reasons of rehabilitation of Manila Bay. DENR should show its seriousness in restoring rich and historical life of Manila Bay by issuing a suspension on all reclamation plans that will destroy its biodiversity," the group said.
For his part, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said the government's reclamation plan will benefit the city as it will provide at least 500,000 jobs and boost income from Real Property Tax (RPT).
He denied claims that residents, specifically in Baseco, will be relocated as a result of the reclamation project.
"Of course not... It is already reclaimed for the housing of the poor. I will not allow (it to be taken away). It is owned by the city government," Estrada said.
The local chief executive initially invited the protesters for a dialogue but the group declined later on since only two were allowed to discuss the problem with him.
From Manila City hall, the protesters trooped to Malacañang to deliver a letter to President Duterte and manifesto signed by 1,500 residents stating their opposition to the reclamation projects in Manila Bay.