MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard voiced out its misgivings with Manila Bay reclamation projects Wednesday, citing their effects on vessel traffic and the surrounding maricultural areas.
Speaking at the "Marine Spatial Planning and Coastal Reclamation: A Focus on Manila Bay Area" webinar organized by Oceana Philippines and the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines, Captain Xerxes Fernandez of the PCG outlined a number of the coast guard's concerns with the reclamation projects in the bay.
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The forum was also attended by representatives from the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, and the National Center for Coral Reef Research Center at the University of Miami.
"We are very much concerned about the effects of reclamation projects within Manila Bay especially since there are a lot of maricultural areas in the bay that depends on the equal distribution of nutrients so that it can be sustainable," he said, pointing out the abundance of fisheries and fish pens in the area.
"We also have concerns about vessel traffic. We noted that there are several projects near the Manila harbor, especially the north and south harbor. We need to study this carefully as we know that these harbors are the lifeblood of the Philippine economy," he added.
Among the PCG's recommendations presented by Fernandez in his presentation entitled "Water Circulation and Vessel Safety" were:
- Mapping of critical habitats
- Mapping of fisheries and maricultural areas
- Will not affect water circulation within the bay
- Ensure river can properly drain into the bay
- Will not restrict vessel movement
Acd. Villanoy shows the reclamation impacts.#PilipiNAST #SPIFMarine pic.twitter.com/0dtN007T2V
— NAST Philippines (@nastphl) October 7, 2020
The PCG is mandated to ensure vessel safety and assist government agencies in protecting the marine environment.
"There are a lot of rivers draining into Manila Bay. There is some speculation that the perennial flooding occurring in Bacoor is a result of the reclamation project undertaken to create the Cavitex area. It seems the water coming from upland is not draining properly into the bay," Fernandez also said.
According to a 2019 briefer by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, there are three river systems draining into the bay in the National Capital Region, namely: "the MANATUTI River System (Malabon–Navotas–Tullahan–Tinajeros River); the MUNTIPARLASPIZAP* River System (Las Piñas–Parañaque–Zapote River); and the PAMARISAN River System (Pasig–Marikina–San Juan River)."
READ: Urban poor families fear eviction amid Manila Bay cosmetic rehab
The various rehabilitation and reclamation projects along Manila Bay continues to be a topic of concern despite the coronavirus pandemic. Urban poor families in September cast fear that the hotly-contested "white sand" beach project meant possible eviction for them mid-pandemic.
After the government-sponsored opening of the "Manila Bay White Sands" baywalk in late September drew crowds that violated the quarantine ban on mass gatherings, the Philippine Coast Guard sent out patrol boats along the shores to keep any passers-by away.
The PCG has been on full alert status and has been enforcing a no-sail policy in the waterway due to the coronavirus lockdown.
"The Philippine Coast Guard as a regulatory agency needs to have ample information when it comes to granting permits or letter of objections, and basically giving input on the natural resource management on bodies like this," Fernandez said.
— Franco Luna