Expert to govt : Abandon Manila Bay reclamation project

MANILA, Philippines - The national government should abandon its plan to reclaim portions of the Manila Bay as it would have devastating effects to Metro Manila residents, an expert said on Tuesday.

Dr. Jiovanni Tapang of the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Physic and Agham Nasyunal chairperson said the reclamation project will also destroy marine life in the place, translating to loss of livelihood to thousands of coastal communities.

"Masisira ang mga buhay sa Manila Bay. May sea grass kung saan nangingitlog ang mga isda. Mga isda na mawawala pag nagkaroon ng reclamation doon. Pag tinakpan ito may tinanggal kang punlaan ng buhay sa lugar.

"Ang plano ng gobyerno na national reclamation plan, halos buong Manila Bay tatakpan kasama ang ibang mga lugar sa Pilipinas. Wala ng magiging hanap-buhay ang mga mangingisda sa mga lugar na tatakpan mula Cavite hanggang Bataan," Tapang said in an interview with Church-run Radyo Veritas.

Tapang said the government would have to find a way to protect the parts from being inundated and destroyed in an event of storm surges.

He cited the storm surge during typhoon Pedring which inundated Roxas Boulevard which near the Manila Bay.

"Hindi maiiwasan na magkaroon ng storm surge o daluyong sa ating coastline. Anong gagamitin nila para hindi ito tamaan ng storm surge? I don’t think they can actually predict o 'yung planong inihahapag nila ay wala namang konsiderasyon sa ganitong mga epekto," he added.

He also said the effects of the reclamation plan would be catastrophic if an earthquake jolts the area.

"Ang posibilidad na liquefaction ay nakita na natin sa Bohol earthquake. Like yung mga butas sa lupa na bumubula ang lupa at lumalabas ang tubig,  ganun din dito. Pag may loose material ka gaya ng sand, pag inalog puwedeng magkaroon ng paggalaw ng tubig at lupa. May malapit din na fault line na mag cause ng liquefaction na naganap na rin sa Dagupan noong 1990," Tapang noted.

The reclamation plan covers some 38,000 hectares of coastlines from Cavite to Bataan, 26,000 hectares of which are along Manila Bay.