Navotas starts P50-billion reclamation project

MANILA, Philippines - The Navotas City government launched a P50-billion reclamation project on its second anniversary as a city Wednesday.

Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco led the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) among the project’s partners, including Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) general manager Andrea Domingo and lawyer Florencio Orendain, who represents Seafront Renew, Inc., the firm that will oversee the raising of the project funds.

The signing was also witnessed by Vice Mayor PJ Javier, city planning chief Rafael Serrano, the heirs of property owner Ramon Chuanico, and Emiel Cornelis, general manager for Asia-Pacific of the Jan de Nul Group.

The Belgium-based Jan de Nul Group is acknowledged as one of the world’s largest marine engineering firms, primarily engaged in dredging, civil, heavy lift and engineering projects.

The firm is known for its land reclamation works on the prestigious Palm Island Jebel Ali or Palm Island II in Dubai, which was finished in 2006.

Serrano said the three-phase project stands on 145 hectares and will have two islands separated from the mainland by 20 meter-wide water channels.

A road network traverses the project in Navotas, which has one of the longest coastlines in the country at four kilometers. The network will extend Road 10 through C-3 Road and connect to the North Luzon Expressway. An entry landmark opens at C-4 Road, Serrano said.

He said the project is expected to generate some 245,000 jobs, which incidentally is the present population of the city. “There will be enough jobs for everyone in Navotas,” he said in jest.

Orendain said the project is “intended to compete with best business parts in the country,” referring to Makati City and the Fort in Taguig City.

“We want it second to none. It will be a very attractive destination not only for the public but also for local and foreign investors. We also intend to put Navotas in the map of investors,” he said.

Tiangco said the construction of the project, which he started conceptualizing nine years ago when he first assumed office as mayor, may take four to five years from the time the funds are raised.

He said First Seafront Renew Inc. is tasked with gathering the funds within a year and from there, the construction begins.

Tiangco said he is asking those to whom he will leave the project to at least invite him during the inauguration.

Domingo said the project, based on world-class standards, is designed to free Navotas of the floods and create additional land for its residents. – Jerry Botial