Kalikasan hits Senate nod on Bulacan airport

MANILA, Philippines — An environment group on Tuesday decried the Senate approval of the franchise bill that paves way for the construction of a new international airport in Bulacan province, saying it would further worsen flooding in coastal communities and aggravate poverty in the area.

Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment said the rush to approve the Bulacan Aerocity franchise would also hasten the climate emergency situation and displace around 129,000 families along the coastlines.

“Without an honest-to-goodness assessment of this project, the franchise approval reflects how the State does not value the importance of the soon-to-be-displaced fisherfolk in the area and the far-reaching ecological and climate consequences down the wire,” said Leon Dulce, Kalikasan national coordinator.

The Senate on Monday approved on third reading a bill granting franchise to San Miguel Aerocity Inc. to operate an airport in Bulacan.

—Jhesset O. Enano