On World Environment Day, ATM demands halt to reclamation projects
- Alyansa Tigil Mina
- Jun 5
- 2 min read
On the occasion of World Environment Day, Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) zeroed in on the devasting impacts of the Manila Bay reclamation projects and called on the PBBM administration to cancel all reclamation projects in Manila Bay and in different parts of the country.
“Government must not ignore the results of the Cumulative Impact Assessment commissioned by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which show that reclamation poses public health risks, affects water circulation, fisheries and ecosystems, and would bring about flooding,” said Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator.
“In the first place, permits for the reclamation projects should not have been granted if only government previously conducted a thorough environmental impact assessment. Given that there is now overwhelming evidence of the projects’ negative impacts as shown by this belated CIA, PBBM and the DENR must immediately cancel all contracts,” he said.
The group added that aside from the coastal communities of Cavite and Bataan where seabed quarrying projects are being undertaken to supply backfill materials for the Manila Bay reclamation, fisherfolks from Zambales and Mindoro also reported “river dredging activities” on their shores which they believe were also linked to the said reclamation.
Garganera called on newly-appointed DENR Secretary Raphael “Popo” Lotilla to waste no time in cancelling the projects’ permits. “Secretary Lotilla should definitely not pursue former DENR Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga’s pronouncement to modify the Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) of the Manila Bay reclamation projects. All reclamation projects must stop now.”
Garganera further stressed the importance of protecting the 15-km municipal waters from commercial fishing and destructive projects like seabed quarrying, river dredging and offshore mining.
ATM also called on Secretary Lotilla to immediately call for a constructive dialogue with environmental and human rights defenders groups to discuss priority issues facing the DENR as they implement their mandate.
Comments