Villar blasts DENR: Why approve reclamation amid Manila Bay rehab?

Senator Cynthia Villar on Monday blasted the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for allowing reclamation projects in Manila Bay despite efforts to rehabilitate it.

At the Senate environment and natural resources hearing on rehabilitation and preservation of Manila Bay, Villar said DENR’s action was contradictory to the Supreme Court landmark order to clean up the bay.

“Bakit pa tayo nag Mandamus ng Manila Bay, para linisin ang Manila Bay tapos ‘yung DENR papatabunan niyo ‘yung Manila Bay,“ Villar, chair of the committee, said.

In 2008, the high court issued a writ of continuing mandamus directing 13 government agencies to clean up, rehabilitate and eventually preserve Manila Bay.

They were given 10 years to do it and the deadline will lapse in December this year.

Environmental lawyer Antonio Oposa echoed Villar’s sentiments, even threatening to file charges against responsible officials at the Ombudsman.

“Senator Villar, paki tanong ang senators kung ano ‘yung policy sa Manila Bay. Gusto ba nating sementohin na lang? Baka mas madali mag-semento kaysa maglinis ng basura,” Oposa said.

But the lawyer emphasized that, after 10 years, the government agencies and officials are friends and partners for the rehabilitation of the bay.