Robredo urges gov’t to aid people displaced by Manila Bay rehab

People flock to the Roxas Boulevard seawall to marvel at the beauty of the sunset at Manila Bay, which is undergoing a massive cleanup. (Photo by EDWIN BACASMAS / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Saturday praised the ongoing rehabilitation of the hyperpolluted Manila Bay but urge the government to help the people displaced by the program.

“Sana sila iyong nabibigyan ng, parang, priority Dahil sa rehabilitation,” Robredo said in an interview after she led the turnover of classrooms at Tabuco Elementary School in Naga City.

[I hope they are given priority because of the rehabilitation.]

Robredo said likened the situation to the rehabilitation of Boracay, which lacked preparation for providing employment for those who were displaced by the six-month closure of the island.

“Napakaganda iyong ginawa, pero may mga na-displace na, parang, hindi na-prepare,” Robredo said. “Iyong iba kasi, parang expected mo naman na madi-displace, pero sana na-prepare na mayroong kapalit na hanapbuhay.”

[What was done was so good, but there were people who were displaced. There seemed to be no preparation. Of course, it was to be expected that some people would be displaced, but there should have been preparations for providing replacement jobs.]

Robredo still lauded the initiative to rehabilitate Manila Bay, saying it showed the “political will” of government officials.

Various government agencies, led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), started its clean-up campaign for Manila Bay last month. /atm