Cayetano to PRA: ‘Pag Taguig, sinisilip niyo lahat’

MANILA — During the Senate budget hearing for the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) on Tuesday, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano hit back at the agency, saying it appears to be targeting reclamation projects in Taguig.

“Pag Taguig lakeshore, sinisilip niyo lahat, pero pag Pasig River, hindi. Pag ibang parts ng Laguna Lake, hindi,” Cayetano said, as he asked the agency whether the rehabilitation of the Pasig River secured the necessary permits.

PRA Assistant General Manager for Reclamation Atty. Joseph John Literal clarified that the rehabilitation along the river, particularly the Pasig River Esplanade, does not fall under reclamation projects because it only features steel foundations and does not involve permanent landfills.

“Kasi wala sir permanent dumping… hindi po siya definition ng filling up,” he clarified to the lawmaker.

In August, Cayetano defended lakeshore developments in Taguig’s side of Laguna Lake after Senator Panfilo Lacson revealed that the PRA allegedly discovered illegal reclamation projects in the area. 

During Tuesday’s budget hearing, Cayetano also questioned the PRA’s jurisdiction over Laguna Lake, saying the agency only asserted its jurisdiction in 2025, potentially overlapping with the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA).

“Sino ang may jurisdiction sa Laguna Lake?… It is only in 2025 that you first started to write everyone to try to assert jurisdiction. Tama po ba?” he asked.

Literal, however, said the PRA has had overlapping jurisdiction with the LLDA since 1995.

“Sir as early as 1995… We already secured an (overlapping jurisdiction) because we’re both clients of the (Office of the Government Corporate Counsel),” he said.

The OGCC serves as the official legal counsel for both the LLDA and PRA.

Cayetano clarified that he has no problem with the PRA coordinating with the LLDA, but he called on the agency to remain neutral in enforcing its mandate.

“You never questioned that. Reclaim nang reclaim ang gobyerno through the LLDA,” he said.

“Walang problema kung every year nag-aaway kayo ng LLDA… Pero kung 20 years na, 15 years na nagko-construct sa side namin, at may problema ang PRA [at] LLDA, hindi kami ang maiipit sa gitna,” Cayetano added.

The PRA, however, said it is merely checking compliance of reclamation projects as part of its mandate.

“Hindi naman po namin iniipit ang mga project po. We were just asked for their compliances to our rules,” PRA Chairman Atty. Alexander Lopez responded.

Meanwhile, the PRA’s proposed P5-billion budget for 2027 has been submitted to the plenary for deliberations.