DPWH, PRA halt reclamation in Taguig

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways and the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) have issued a cease-and-desist order against an unauthorized reclamation project along the Taguig waterfront, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said yesterday.

Speaking during a field inspection in Marikina, Dizon confirmed that the formal order was executed following explicit directives from the Office of the President to halt illegal earth-filling and coastal development activities along Laguna de Bay.

Dizon said the order was served on Aug. 20 and took effect immediately.

The PRA, an attached agency under the Office of the President, oversees all reclamation civil works nationwide. Unsanctioned projects have come under intense scrutiny from public works and environmental officials for disrupting natural drainage channels and compounding severe monsoon flooding across Metro Manila and surrounding river basins.

Dizon said that multi-agency coordination meetings have been convened to resolve jurisdiction, environmental impact and legal violations surrounding the project.

“A meeting has been called with key stakeholders, including the city government of Taguig, the Laguna Lake Development Authority and the Pasig River Urban Development Project,” he said. “We will discuss the issues and determine the way forward, but all reclamation activities are ordered stopped effective immediately.”

The DPWH chief emphasized that the government will strictly enforce coastal and riverbank regulations to ensure development projects do not compromise Metro Manila’s overall flood control master plan.