DENR chief unfazed by influential backers of Manila Bay reclamation
MANILA, Philippines — Environment Chief Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga on Thursday said that she was not easily scared of influential proponents behind the Manila Bay reclamation activities.
Loyzaga responded to Senator Cynthia Villar’s comment that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary feared these unspecified influential people.
“I don’t know many of you, but you can ask the people who do know me. I’m not easily scared,” said Loyzaga in a Malacañang press briefing when asked if she was afraid of these influential proponents.
“This is Senator Villar’s, I guess, statement of concern regarding the complicated issue, and I’m very grateful for our interaction. Senator Cynthia and I, really conversing deeply about this issue on reclamation’s environmental impacts,” added Loyzaga.
Loyzaga said their compliance review work began in 2023 after meeting with advocates like Pamalakaya, Agham, Oceana, and more.
“I’m very grateful to Senator Villar for her concern, but we are here to do our job, and we will do it slowly and deliberately because we want to make sure that we stay within the bounds of the law,” the secretary said.
When asked who these influential people are and how they were able to push for the reclamation activities in Manila Bay, Loyzaga said that she could not comment on how they received approval during the previous administration.
During a Senate public works committee hearing on the country’s flood problems, Villar remarked that the DENR chief was afraid of the influential proponents behind Manila Bay reclamation projects.
“But the problem is I talked to Secretary Loyzaga about this. Eh, medyo takot siya kasi yung mga magre-reclaim mga influential sa Pilipinas. So natatakot siya being a secretary under…natatakot sila na…Sabi ko wag kang matakot, kung mali, mali. Kung tama, tama. We have to do something about it,” said Villar.
(But the problem is, I talked to Secretary Loyzaga about this. She was a bit afraid of those influential in the Philippines who were reclaiming. She was afraid of being a secretary under…they were afraid that…I said do not be afraid; if it’s wrong, it’s wrong. If it’s right, it’s right. We have to do something about it.)
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