Development projects may hinder DENR’s SC mandate to rehabilitate Manila Bay

Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga (File photo from the Facebook account of the DENR)

MANILA, Philippines — A Supreme Court (SC) order to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to help rehabilitate Manila Bay may be hampered by developments, according to Environment Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga on Tuesday.

Today, 22  Manila Bay reclamation projects are from different developers.

READ: Gov’t processing 22 Manila Bay Reclamation projects

According to Loyzaga, the DENR is a Mandamus agency, which is an agency ordered by the SC in 2011 to help rehabilitate Manila Bay, as per the Writ of Continuing Mandamus.

“What we are concerned about is our task in terms of implementing that Mandamus is actually going to be impeded by some of these developments,” said Loyzaga in a press briefing.

According to Loyzaga, there are sewage treatment plants (STP) already in place, which may be disturbed by further reclamation activities.

“As you know, in order to treat the water that flows back into the bay. Saan po ilalagay sa mga future STPs at ano po mangyayari sa mga STPs na nandidiyan na in terms of the affluent pathways na establish prior to the approval of any of these projects,” said Loyzaga.

(As you know, treat the water flowing back into the bay. Where do we put future STPs, and what will happen to the STPs that are already there in terms of effluent pathways that were established before the approval of any of these projects.)

The DENR chief said that the agency is already looking into possible non-compliance in the company. However, she did not specify which company this was.

“They will be called in for a technical conference to see whether my explanation po sila sa mga in-observe na potential na non-compliance,” she said.

(They will be called in for a technical conference to see if they have an explanation for the observed potential non-compliance.)

Green groups have repeatedly called for a stop to the reclamation and development activities in Manila Bay, citing dangers to the local environment.

RELATED STORIES:

Manila Bay not dead, but reclamation killing it, say groups

Adverse impact of Manila Bay dredging, reclamation bared

JPV/abc