DENR chief: Reclamation projects will slow down the flow of water

Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga during a press briefing in Malacañang in this file photo taken on August 2, 2023. INQUIRER.net file photo / Ryan Leagogo

MANILA, Philippines — Citing its cumulative impact assessment of reclamation activities along Manila Bay, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga bared that “any physical change in the configuration of the embayment would, in fact, change the way the water and other pollutants behave in the area.”

Speaking at the Senate panel on public works’ Thursday hearing, disclosed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) findings of its impact assessment on reclamation activities along the bay.

“In general, reclamation projects will slow down the flow of water and will change the circulation and retention of pollutants and organic materials that are already in the bay. This does not include yet what will be coming from the inland. So what we are doing now is combining what is coming from the inland under different bodies of water and what is coming from the ocean itself, from the bay itself,” said Yulo-Loyzaga.

The DENR chief’s remarks came after tropical cyclone Carina ravaged through Luzon, leaving widespread flooding in most areas including Metro Manila.

To recall, some senators blamed the ongoing reclamation projects in the bay for  the flooding.

“So these models are being run to [also] include extreme events such as what has happened. And what will happen now to drainage as well as circulation of these chemical and biological matters in the bay. So in general any change geometrically, physically in terms of infrastructure that is introduced will change the way the bay behaves,” she added.

According to Yulo-Loyzaga, the cumulative impact assessment was undertaken by the DENR, adding that with the model runs that they are actually undertaking, there will be an ecological cost and an economic cost to introducing anything into Manila Bay.

“In relation to the implementation of the mandamus ruling. The question that we now have in terms of the different scenarios that will be possible is who will pay for that additional burden in terms of achieving the mandamus order,” she added.

In the same hearing, the DENR chief likewise cited the case of SM group.

According to her, SM group’s Manila Bay reclamation project used to have no gap between the seawall and the inland.

“[But] on the basis of the recommendation, they have now — they are now implementing a channel between the seawall and the island of about 400 plus meters,” Yulo-Loyzaga explained.

READ: PH senators on Metro Manila flood: ‘Reclamation pa more!’

Panel head Sen. Bong Revilla proceeded to state that this channel would help prevent flooding. To this, Yulo-Loyzaga answered yes.

“So they are implementing this now as part of an engineering solution to the issue of circulation,” she said.