Party-list lawmakers urge government to suspend Manila Bay rehab

MANILA, Philippines — Eight party-list lawmakers yesterday filed a resolution urging the government to suspend the Manila Bay rehabilitation program.

The resolution was signed by Rep. Ariel Casilao of Anakpawis, Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna, Emmie de Jesus and Arlene Brosas of Gabriela, Antonio Tinio and France Castro of ACT Teachers and Sarah Jane Elago of Kabataan.

“The rehabilitation program could be a prelude to 43 reclamation projects covering more than 32,000 hectares in the bay under the Build, Build, Build program,” the resolution stated.

The lawmakers said that among the projects is the 265-hectare “Pasay Harbor City” joint venture involving Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy, among the contributors to President Duterte’s campaign.

They noted that Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said the informal settler families living near the bay would be relocated to Central Luzon and Calabarzon.

Pamalakaya national chairperson Fernando Hicap said relocating around 300,000 families “to far-flung settlement sites away from their source of livelihood” would only compel them to return to their former communities.

The lawmakers accused Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu of “turning a blind eye to the chemical and toxic wastes being discharged by industrial and commercial structures on a regular basis, as well as other government projects that are destructive to the marine ecology of one of the country’s major fishing grounds.”              

Editor's note: A revision was made on Fernando Hicap's designation. He is the national chairperson of fisherfolk group Pamalakaya, not a representative of Anakpawis.