MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday has accused left-leaning solons of postponing the cleanup and rehabilitation of Manila Bay by politicizing the issue.
On Tuesday, Jan. 29, Makabayan lawmakers filed House Resolution 2452 asking that the House of Representatives recommend to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) the postponement of the cleanup, citing the need for a “comprehensive and holistic” study on its impact to marginalized sectors.
“Unfortunately, it would seem that the Left in Congress has given in to big business and special interests who will be adversely affected by the closure of businesses and other entities found to be violating environmental laws,” DILG Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said in a statement.
“Again, they have politicized this supposedly bipartisan issue to gain votes ahead of the party-list elections,” he said.
According to Malaya, the study that the lawmakers are seeking have already been carried out by the DENR and the DILG and only needs implementation.
He said Interior Secretary Eduardo Año is also set to meet with the mayors of Metro Manila on Thursday, Jan. 31, to expedite the preparation and transfer of informal settlers near the bay to resettlement sites in Metro Manila and in the provinces.
Amid the call for postponement, Malaya stressed that the polluted Manila Bay is now “in critical condition.”
“Actually, the bay is in ICU (Intensive Care Unit). We cannot afford an additional day of delay. Giving in to Makabayan will only make matters much worse,” he said.
Malaya also criticized the claim of Left-leaning solons that the bay’s cleanup will usher in around 40 reclamation projects that will displace some 250,000 informal settlers.
“Again this is clearly misinformation. There is no place for reclamation in the rehabilitation program. In fact, Secretary Año is personally opposed to reclamation projects,” said Malaya.
The Manila Bay cleanup officially started on Sunday, Jan. 27 and will take seven years to be completed, according to authorities. /muf
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