SC issues writ of kalikasan vs P14-B Manila Bay reclamation project

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court has issued a writ of kalikasan on the petition against the P14-billion reclamation project in Manila Bay.

In their summer session in Baguio City, Tuesday, the justices of the high court voted to issue the writ and require the government to answer the petition filed by former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar seeking to stop the reclamation project.

However, the high court did not issue a temporary environmental protection order (TEPO) to stop the government from proceeding with the reclamation project covering 635. 14 hectares in submerged land.

Under the rules, the issuance of the writ is only procedural.

Sought to comment within 10 days are the following respondents Public Reclamation Authority (PRA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), City Government of Las Piñas and Alltech Contractors Inc. (Alltech).

The former congresswoman on March 16 asked the Supreme Court to stop a 635-hectare reclamation project in Manila Bay, which she said may impede the natural river flow in her city, destroy the remaining 175 hectare mangrove forest and marine habitat in Las Piñas and Parañaque and cause flooding in many barangays.

The firm, All Tech Contractors Incorporated, is pursuing the reclamation of 635 hectare of foreshore areas in Manila Bay which is beside the 175-hectare protected mangroves, lagoons and ponds known as Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area.

Included in her petition are the signatures of a total of 315,849 residents in their city and findings of a hydrological services consultant she tapped in support of her petition.

She said the project would cause massive flooding in 65 coastal barangays since it will impede natural flow of water to the bay.

She added the project would destroy one of Metro Manila’s last nature reserves and bird sanctuaries—the Las Piñas-Parañaque Coastal Lagoon or the 175-hectare of Salt marshes, tidal areas and three mangrove-clad islands that serve as home or resting spot for dozens of bird species, including the globally threatened Philippine duck and Chinese egret.
In 2007, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo issued Executive Order No. 1412 declaring the coastal lagoon as the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area and banning activities that would impede its ecologically vital role as a bird sanctuary.