Church execs oppose Manila Bay reclamation project

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, his predecessor Gaudencio Rosales and 20 other bishops have expressed “deep reservations” over the adverse social and environmental effects of 38 planned real estate projects that would involve the reclamation of more than 26,230 hectares of Manila Bay.

In a November 19 letter to President Aquino, they asserted “the scientific, legal and moral basis of our opposition for the reclamation of Manila Bay echoes God’s message.”

“The Scriptures tells us in the Book of Genesis that after creating the heavens, the earth, the sea, and man and woman, ‘God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good,’” they noted.

They also urged the President to “be with us in responding to the call of Pope Francis,” who had asked Catholics worldwide to be “protectors of God’s creations, protectors of one another and of the environment.”

According to the bishops, their immediate concerns include the planned reclamation of 300 hectares of the bay in Las Piñas and Parañaque and 148 hectares in Manila.

They noted “even without these projects, former reclamation projects in these areas have resulted in disastrous flooding, especially in Las Piñas, Parañaque, Malabon, Navotas and many towns and cities in Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, and Pampanga that now have serious need for dredging of water bodies to enable water to flow more freely.”

“Should the decision to allow these projects be determined only by financial considerations?” they asked.

The bishops asserted it would be “wiser to boost tourism and cultural preservation by restoring old historical sites and buildings rather than build on reclaimed land to the detriment of the livelihood of the people and the environment.”

“Will the projected economic gains sufficiently and justifiably compensate the damages in life, ecosystems and property in the future?” they added.

Sought for comment, Edmundo Lim, MGDC vice president, pointed out, on Thursday, their planned “Solar City” project would not become “a wanton and greedy business project that’s aimed only at making profits.”

“It will help the City of Manila develop further. The project would definitely enhance both the business and tourism potentials of the country’s capital,” he emphasized.

Contacted by phone, Lim noted that “30 hectares of the 148-ha. project will go to the Philippine Reclamation Authority while the Manila city government will get five hectares. The rest will go to the construction of roads and open parks, among others.”

At the same time, he said “a significant portion of the project will be dedicated to environmental concerns.”

Earlier, the MGDC executive assured the proposed reclamation project “will not obstruct or hide from public view Manila Bay’s world-famous sunset.”

“The commercial, business, residential and tourism hub that will rise on the reclaimed land will enhance a four-kilometer sunset-viewing area,” he disclosed, adding a casino was not in the blueprint of their development plan.

Earlier, William Tieng, MGDC chair and chief executive officer, urged project critics to “look at the bright side and accept the fact that it can be beneficial to the country if done properly and given the safety nets.”

He pointed to similar undertakings in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, United Arab Emirates, and the Netherlands, among others, where he said “they used land reclamation as a front door to urban development.”

“There’s nothing wrong with converting a small portion of the bay into one of the best places to live, work or do business in the Philippines, if not Southeast Asia,” he said.

Tieng also said the project “will not adversely affect the marine environment because it’s envisioned to abide by international best practices and standards of development projects.”

“There is no truth to claims that reclamation projects cause flooding. In fact, they can reduce flooding like what they did in Holland,” he added.

RELATED STORIES:

Manila Bay advocates oppose reclamation plan in Parañaque

Environmental groups oppose proposed Manila Bay reclamation project

Firm asked to show Manila Bay reclamation can survive storm surges

Manila Bay reclamation project will bring jobs, revenue, says firm