Villar: Manila Bay airport project will cause massive flooding

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Cynthia Villar warned of possible flooding in Parañaque, Las Piñas and Cavite if the next administration will push through with the proposed reclamation of Manila Bay for a new international airport.

The senator called on President-elect Rodrigo Duterte not to push through with the project as the planned reclamation will also deprive 300,000 fishermen of their livelihood.

"I appeal to President-elect Duterte to look beyond the claim of decongesting existing airports and realize that the planned reclamation will cause flooding as high as 8 meters in Paranaque, Las Pinas and Cavite," Villar said in a statement released on Thursday.

Villar added that the reclamation of Manila Bay will destroy the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Eco-Tourism Area (LPPCHEA).

The LPPCHEA is the first declared critical habitat and protected area in the country under Presidential Proclamation 1412 and 1412-A in 2007. It consists of Freedom Island and Long Island which covers around 175 hectares of wetland ecosystem.

"The reclamation of Manila Bay is dangerous as it can also be seen as a violation of Supreme Court's continuing mandamus since 2008 directing the government to clean up Manila Bay," Villar said.

The $13-billion airport project was proposed by San Miguel Corporation but the administration of President Benigno Aquino III did push through with the proposal.

A newspaper report stated that Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez urged Duterte to pursue the proposed international airport in Manila Bay which will make use of 157 hectares of Freedom Island.

Villar cited the 2002 ruling of the high court which states that private companies cannot own reclaimed lands.

The senator suggested that the airport in Clark be improved to loosen passenger traffic at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.