Villar: Redirect PRA mandate from reclamation to redev’t

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Cynthia Villar proposed yesterday to redirect the mandate of the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) to the development of inland areas and existing reclamation projects instead of proposing more reclamation projects.

Villar, who chairs the Senate committee on government corporations and public enterprises, said reclamation should be a last resort and should only be done according to public interest.

During the second hearing of the committee on the resolution seeking a review of the PRA’s powers and responsibilities, Villar said inland development should be favored more than reclamation to avoid environmental damage.

Villar said the PRA should go slow on reclamation. “Before, climate change, storm surges, and rising sea levels were not among the considerations. (But now these phemonena are here),” she said.

During the hearing, Villar told PRA officials not to encourage local government units to favor reclamation.

The hearing was attended by PRA chairman Roberto Muldong, board member Reynaldo Robles, general manager and CEO Peter Anthony Abaya, and assistant general manager for reclamation Joselito Gonzales.