Completing a Marcos legacy project

It took nearly 49 years to transform Entertainment City, the entire Mall of Asia (MOA) Complex and the surrounding financial district into thriving centers of commerce and tourism with millions of square meters of office and commercial spaces. Adding to these features are world-class entertainment and cultural venues, exhibition and convention facilities in 22 hotels, four of the country’s largest integrated resort casinos, hospitals, churches, housing and residential communities and even schools.

All of them are under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) headed by chairman Alexander Lopez as the gatekeeper of these multimillion-peso government real estate assets. Lopez vowed to further improve upon the Philippine infrastructure program of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) being implemented at all PRA-owned lands in the Manila Bay reclamation areas.

At the Kapihan sa Manila Bay news forum last Wednesday, Lopez announced on-going projects to develop an area twice as large of the existing reclamation area to create 6.505 million square meters more of new lands from four reclamation projects. In pursuit of PBBM’s vision, Lopez echoed the hopes of the PRA to complete these four reclamation projects before the end of the term of PBBM in June 2028.

Lopez asserted the PRA is committed to work with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine Fisheries Development Authority, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Lopez acknowledged the PRA must ensure all reclamation activities strictly comply with all the laws of the land.

A lawyer by profession, Lopez signed last week a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Office of the Solicitor General (Sol-Gen) to help them take appropriate legal actions against at least 7,000 illegal and irregular reclamation sites all over the country. Under this MOA, he disclosed, the Sol-Gen will provide at least 36 of their lawyers to assist the 200-strong PRA personnel in pressing the government’s rightful legal claims on reclaimed lands done without prior permit and authority from their agency.

This is to strengthen an integrated approach to coastal development – one that protects the livelihood of our fisherfolk, enhances port efficiency and maritime connectivity, supports sustainable industries and ensures that economic progress is balanced with environmental stewardship and the long-term welfare of our coastal communities, he explained.

“The President is reshaping and redefining the Philippine infrastructure program that we pursue at the PRA under his direction. This is the vision of a truly Bagong Pilipinas,” Lopez enthused.

Out of the 22 reclamation project proposals submitted to the PRA, Lopez cited, PBBM approved only four of them that met and complied with the “cumulative impact assessments” done by the PRA along with all these concerned government agencies.

“We see reclamation not merely as creating new land, but as creating new opportunities for every Filipino,” Lopez pointed out. “Every hectare we responsibly develop is an investment in our country’s future – opening doors for economic growth, quality jobs, modern communities and a better quality of life,” Lopez cited.

Encompassing the cities of Manila, Pasay, Parañaque all the way to Bacoor in Cavite, Lopez disclosed these four new reclamation projects are projected to generate new and additional investments, industries, jobs and greater opportunities for development. Lopez repeatedly underscored these projects are sourced from private sector capital investments by both local and foreign businesses and conglomerates.

“Of course, responsible reclamation projects of this magnitude require rigorous environmental safeguards and sound engineering,” he assuaged.

Formerly called the Public Estates Authority, the PRA is now one of the Class A government-owned and controlled corporations, Lopez proudly declared. The 67-year-old Lopez was appointed in November 2023 to head the three-man governing board of the PRA, an agency under the Office of the President. As of last year, the PRA reported a total of P228 billion worth of assets, or eight times bigger than the P37 billion last year. Lopez explained the huge jump was due to the PRA Board revaluating its assets that were under-valued in the past.

He crowed the PRA has been pursuing “world-class infrastructure through innovative public-private partnerships” but without additional burden on taxpayers. Lopez believes the PRA can help accelerate nation-building while ensuring that every peso of public funds “is used wisely and every development creates lasting value for the Filipino people.”

The PRA chief described the four newly reclaimed islands will be self-sustaining, complete with provisions for electricity, fiber-optic connectivity, gas lines, potable water and gray water systems similar to the mainland Manila Bay reclamation area. He reiterated all these critical infrastructure investments must come from the private sector as required by the PRA, without government funding.

In Pasay City alone, Lopez cited, the PRA is merely facilitating with city government authorities the development of at least 12 bridges, 88 kilometers of roads, 40 kilometers of bike lanes, 122 kilometers of drainage and underground flood control systems and 120 kilometers of utility corridors for electricity, water and internet services.

Applying technology innovations in engineering and nature-based solutions, Lopez estimated at least 22 kilometers more of coastal revetment is being constructed. This means that the designs are meant to protect the islands, the inhabitants and the biodiversity from the dangers of coastal flooding, erosion and strong waves, he pointed out.

Moreover, the PRA chief eyes the deployment by December or January next year the six units of articulated electronic buses and charging stations in 15 stations under the P208-million Bay City Loop (BCL) project. The PRA will oversee the operations of the BCL transport system that will service people going in and around all the establishments in the entire Manila Bay reclamation area.

“We will continue to enjoy the popular sight of the Manila Bay sunset while reinventing Metro Manila’s coastline,” the PRA chief promised.

After more than four decades, Lopez swears he is only too happy to complete the Manila Bay reclamation project, a legacy project of PBBM’s parents during the 20 years of the Marcos Sr. regime in our country.