Local Govt chief Año, deputy oppose Manila Bay reclamation project
Credit to Author: CATHERINE A. MODESTO| Date: Sun, 10 Mar 2019 11:20:33 +0000
LOCAL Government Secretary Eduardo Año and his deputy are opposing the Manila Bay reclamation projects for they may end “killing people and destroying properties in Manila Bay.”
“Ako po sa personal, ayaw ko po ng reclamation. Wala pa po ako sa gobyerno, nilalabanan ko na ang reclamation sa Manila Bay. At bumulong si Secretary Año sa akin, ayoko rin ng reclamation (For me personally, I reject reclamation. Even before I entered the government, I was fighting against the Manila Bay reclamation. And Sec. [Eduardo] Año, [the DILG secretary], whispered to me that he’s also against the projects),” said Local and Interior Government Undersecretary Epimaco Densing Jr. in the media forum “Balitaan sa Maynila” on Sunday.
Año confirmed Densing’s statement to The Manila Times: “I am against reclamation in Manila Bay. There has been no request to our office.” He did not elaborate.
Reclamation is the act of creating new land from oceans, riverbeds or lakes.
The Philippine Reclamation Authority said there were 19 reclamation projects, four of which were to be constructed in Manila and which Mayor Joseph Estrada had approved.
These are the tourism hubs Manila Waterfront City and Horizon Manila of the J-Bros Construction Corp., Manila Solar City of the Manila Goldcoast Development Corporation; and City of Pearl of the UAA Kinming Group Development Corp.
Manila Solar City, a 148-hectare tourism and commercial hub, which Estrada approved in 2012, is in the detailed engineering stage, the PRA said while the rest were in the application stage.
“Napakasimple ng explanation jan, pag baso ng tubig nilagyan mo ng ice, tataas ang tubig.(The explanation there is so simple. If you put ice in a glass of water, the water will overflow. There will be flooding in Metro Manila. That’s a million percent sure), Densing said.
He cited last year’s flooding incident along Roxas Boulevard, which was flooded with garbage.
He also said that a lot of people would be displaced and properties destroyed.
“In other words, let’s set aside profitability, properties in favor of profit,” the official said.
He also spoke in jest that he may resign if the government would decide to give the green light to the Manila Bay reclamation.
“Pwede ako mag-resign, labanan ko yung reclamation (I can resign. I will fight the reclamation),” he said.
Densing shared that he offered to give up his post when the government allowed a casino to operate in Boracay after rehabilitating it for six months last year.
“So I said ‘Mr. President, if being anti-casino would result in being kicked out of my position, kick me out. Kasi prinsipyo na ho yun e. (Because that is already a matter of principle),” Densing said.
He also took a swipe at other government officials whom he accused of supporting what Malacañang officials lobbied for to keep their positions.
“We do not need to hold on to our position, di gaya ng iba nating kasama na sasabihin nila ang gustong marinig ng kausap nila sa Malacañang, para manatili sa position nila, tayo hindi. (We are unlike our colleagues who would say what Malacañang officials they are in talks with would want to hear to keep their positions.)
He also expressed confidence that the President would reject the reclamation.
“Well tingnan po natin anong mangyayari po jan, so nasa pangulo na ang huling pagdedesisyon. Pero knowing the President, simple lamang po siya, pag ang isang proyekto di nakabubuti sa taong bayan, wala nang isip isip yan, ‘no.’”
(Let’s see what will happen. The President has the final say here. But knowing him, he’s simple. If a project does not promote common good, he would say no, without thinking.)
In early February, President Rodrigo Duterte, through Executive Order 74, transferred the PRA to the Office of the President from the National Economic and Development Authority. WITH DEMPSEY REYES
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