Aquino gov’t urged to scrap reclamation projects

ILOILO CITY—Nearly 500 activists representing various organizations in 43 countries have called on President Aquino to scrap at least four major reclamation projects for perceived negative impacts on the livelihood of fisher folk and marine biodiversity.

In a resolution passed during the 4th Assembly of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS) held in Manila on July 7-9, the delegates called for a stop to ongoing and planned reclamation projects in Caticlan-Boracay in Aklan, Manila Bay, Laguna de Bay and Panglao Island in Bohol.

“The Philippine government should now seriously review its policy on reclamation of coastal areas, given the impact of this economic activity to fisherfolk livelihood, community rights and marine environment,” said the resolution which was introduced by the militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya).

The resolution was approved by 480 delegates coming from 43 countries including the United States, Canada, Argentina, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Ecuador, Mexico, South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, Cameroon, Burundi, Italy, Belgium, Greece, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Japan, South Korea, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines.

The delegates said the negative impact of reclamation projects which have been implemented since the 1970s could be measured not only in the displacement of fishing families from their main source of livelihood and communities but through its destructive impact to the marine environment.

The delegates raised concern over the reclamation project in Caticlan, the jump-off point to Boracay Island, and the planned reclamation of parts of Boracay Island.

The Supreme Court has ordered the suspension of the project after a group of business owners filed a petition to stop the reclamation being implemented by the Aklan provincial government.

The resolution also cited the reclamation project on Panglao Island in Bohol covering a cluster of islands.

The delegates have assailed the Philippine Reclamation Authority for pushing for another reclamation project in Manila Bay covering 615 hectares of foreshore waters which they said would affect the 175-hectare bird sanctuary in Manila Bay, the only remaining bird sanctuary and mangrove forest area in the National Capital Region.

They also expressed opposition to the planned reclamation in Laguna de Bay involving over 5,000 hectares of lake area to pave the way for another airport and the establishments of condominiums and commercial establishments along the lakeshore.

“We call on the Aquino government to respect and uphold the rights of small fishermen and discontinue this sell out of people’s marine resources,” the delegates said in their resolution.