The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) and the Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (K-PNE) deserve the support not only of millions in the National Capital Region (NCR) for putting the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to task for botching its task of cleaning up the bay as mandated by the Supreme Court (SC) 16 years ago.
Pamalakaya slammed DENR for approving 13 reclamation projects and 10 seabed quarry permits in Manila Bay, which used to supply 50% of the fish requirements of the bay region in the 1960s. The situation worsened when the Duterte administration “stopped” reclamation projects, centralized the task of approving such projects to the Office of the President (OP), and giving the green light to favored parties that included the family of a senator, corporations based in Davao, gigantic commercial centers and the family of a fishing magnate. Of course, one should not forget the Boracay Project abutting the US Embassy that was packaged as a replication of the white-sand (dolomite) beach supposed to help people overcome depression, only to end up as a dirty repository of garbage.
Stupidly, the government embarked on a grand conspiracy to choke Manila Bay by allowing as many as two dozen reclamation projects in the NCR, Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite, and Bataan to proceed. The bay has an average depth of 17 meters (55.8 ft), it is estimated to have a total volume of 28.9 billion cubic meters (28.9 cu. km.) Entrance to the bay is only 19 km. (11.8 miles) and it is only 48 km (29.8 miles) at its widest. By dumping silt, gravel, rocks, and concrete as well as driving piles down to the bedrock, these Manila Bay reclamation projects create thousands of hectares of land for private appropriation. How many natural waterways had been blocked by these reclamation projects? Remember that Manila started to sink when nearly all of its 38 esteros were “reclaimed” by businessmen who built warehouses and parking lots over all of them.
Pamalakaya and K-PNE have joined hands in righting a wrong that DENR has been committing in the past 16 years, with several environment secretaries neglecting their duty under the writ of kalikasan issued by the SC to rehabilitate the bay. The two organizations also filed a petition for continuing mandamus at the SC. A writ of kalikasan protects a person’s constitutional right to a balanced and healthful ecology while the writ of continuing mandamus compels DENR officials to fulfill their duties, like stricter enforcement of environmental laws. In response, DENR under Secretary Toni Yulo Loyzaga, claimed the department was committed to “fulfill its mandate under the 20098 writ of kalikasan.”
In reaction, Pamalakaya said DENR had issued environmental compliance certificates (ECCs) to reclamation projects despite compelling proof that they are damaging the environment, worsening the already perennial flooding in Metro Manila and Laguna by reducing substantially the carrying capacity of the bay. Heavy siltation of the 24 creeks and rivers dumping their water to the Laguna de Bay has worsened the situation. Logging at the Marikina Watershed only increased water runoff during the rainy season, causing floods downstream. The recent deadly flood in upstream Antipolo City is proof positive that environmental protection has gone to the dogs, a testament to unpunished criminal negligence.
“If only the DENR had fulfilled its mandate to protect Manila Bay from destructive projects such as reclamation, then we would not have to go to the Supreme Court to ask for the appropriate relief,” Pamalakaya vice chairman Ronnel Arambulo said. Pamalakaya and K-PNE noted that Loyzaga has been more concerned with scrapping the contract of a foundation dedicated to protect the Masungi Georeserve in Baras, Rizal and even to deliver part of the reservation to the Bureau of Corrections. In its usual tasteless and bland retort, DENR said it is “fully dedicated to implementing measures that ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations, as well as the rights and livelihoods of local communities, including fishermen.”
Pamalakaya disputed the DENR, citing the fact that it issued ECCs and area clearances for a minimum of 13 reclamation projects and 10 seabed quarry permits “without first meeting the requirements of the law.” It argued that fishermen are optimistic in winning their case against DENR “it is based on the lived experiences of the fishers from Manila Bay.” DENR should be investigated as well since one key player in the Pharmally case, also figured in behind-the-scenes negotiations for reclamation projects in Manila Bay and in one Central Luzon province. Young as he was, Lincolnn Ong purportedly introduced himself as someone close to Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, former president Rodrigo Duterte’s valet and Man Friday. Ong was detained by Senate during its investigation into the Pharmally scam.
Aside from its failure to push the sustained rehabilitation of Manila Bay, the department has also been accused of failing to give justice to the people of Coron and Busuanga, Palawan who have been fighting to win control of 40,000 hectares of land farmed by indigenous peoples (IPs.) The DENR secretary’s family has controlled the property since martial law, like the 10,821-hectare Bugsuk Island controlled by San Miguel Corp. (SMC), which the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) earmarked for farmers but was suddenly declared as unfit for agriculture, to the eternal pleasure of Ramon Ang.
