Posted on July 19, 2023
THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said that the major reclamation projects in the National Capital Region (NCR) could “spur economic development.”
DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones referred to the nine reclamation projects amounting to P330.6 billion that include the 287-hectare Parañaque Reclamation Project with an estimated project cost of P76.7 billion; the 260-hectare Pasay City Reclamation Project worth P72 billion; and the Navotas Coastal Bay Reclamation Project worth P58 billion.
Another project in Parañaque covering 300 hectares worth P50.1 billion was also included, as well as the P37.8 billion Las Piñas-Parañaque Coastal Bay Reclamation and Development Project; the MICT Berth 6 Northern and Southern Extension Project worth P22.4 billion; the Manila Harbor Reclamation Project amounting to P6.9 billion; and the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority reclamation project, which costs about P6.7 billion.
Leones said that reclamation spurs economic activities and generates revenues for the government.
“However, reclamation should not only be confined within the economic parameters, but also on the context of environmental protection and conservation, disaster risk and climate change mitigation that are science- and evidence-based,” he added.
He cited the need to harmonize the policy gaps among national government agencies tasked to review and approve reclamation projects, including those that issue compliance certificates.
“Mainstreaming nature-based solution in infrastructure development in reclamation is the key to sustainability and viability,” he said.
Meanwhile, DENR Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga admitted that they are worried about the means the department has to meet the challenges alongside reclamation.
“We are seriously concerned with the way the level of science and the level of evaluation that is available to us at the department can meet the challenges on marine biodiversity,” said Yulo-Loyzaga.
She added that they are building capacity by reaching out to different higher educational institutions like the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute and University of the Philippines Los Baños.
