MANILA, Philippines — Senator Cynthia Villar issued a stern warning Friday against the planned reclamation project in Bacoor City, which she said would submerge Las Piñas in floodwaters.
At a budget hearing in the Senate, Villar blasted the planned Bacoor reclamation project as it sits right in front of the Las Piñas-Parañque Wetland, a protected area.
“But how do you protect the wetland park if there would be a reclamation project in front of it?” the senator asked during the hearing attended by environment officials led by Secretary Roy Cimatu.
“Why are you entertaining that? What’s your reason for entertaining that Bacoor reclamation?” Villar further asked.
She said former Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson had told her to oppose such a plan as it would result in an eight-meter or three-story-high flooding in Las Piñas.
“Gusto mo ba kaming bahain ng eight meters? Magsa-suggest ka na naman ng reclamation,” she said.
The senator said she kept her silence when many had approached her to help stop the reclamation project in Bulacan for the construction of an airport there.
Villar said she did not want to be accused she was going against the project because of its proponent, businessman tycoon Ramon Ang.
“But my God, huwag kang magre-reclaim sa tapat ko at tayo ay magakakagulo naman…,” Villar said.
“Hindi naman ako papayag d’yan. Mag-aaway lang tayo, tigilan n’yo na ‘yan . Tigilan na ‘yan.”
“Mag-reclamation kayo sa ibang lugar but not in Las Piñas, and in front of Las Piñas, hindi talaga ako papayag d’yan. Ano, palulubugin n’yo kami?” she continued. /kga