Senators, green groups blame Manila Bay reclamation for floods
Several senators and environmental groups blamed the reclamation projects in Manila Bay for causing the massive floods in the sprawling capital region and nearby provinces, including the Senate compound’s seaside street on Wednesday.
“This, I believe, is the consequence of all the reclamation happening in Manila Bay, no more outlets for flood waters here in Pasay and Manila,” Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri told reporters.
“It will always result in flooding every time it rains heavily. This is another disaster,” he added.
He also sent videos of the floods taken by his staff, including one showing a vehicle creating waves on the inundated Diokno Boulevard in front of the Senate building in Pasay City.
The flooding was caused by relentless torrential rains over main parts of the country brought by Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi)
P1B ‘daily’ vs floods
Sen. Joel Villanueva, who also pointed to the reclamation as the culprit in the flooding, criticized the Department of Public Works and Highways for apparently not addressing this perennial problem.
“Imagine, for the past two years — including this year — we have this P1-billion-a-day flood control budget for DPWH alone — P1B a day! Please tell me if anyone here can see at least an improvement in addressing floods,” he said.
Sen. JV Ejercito also said that the reclamation projects could be among the possible causes of the flooding.
“Is it not because of the reclamation why the Senate (area) had been submerged in floodwaters? I think this is the only time it happened,” Ejercito said.
So-called benefits
“From Presidents Duterte to Marcos Jr., lie upon lie has been rained upon us on the so-called benefits of reclamation,” she said. “And now, only two days after President Marcos’ State of the Nation Address (SONA) where he proudly committed himself as a climate champion, all his empty promises are literally drowning homes and families around Manila Bay.”
In his speech, Mr. Marcos said there were ongoing disaster preparedness efforts, citing 5,500 flood protection systems, but he was silent on Manila Bay reclamation.
He appealed to Congress to pass a law to confer the legal personality of the Philippines as host of the board of the Loss Development Fund. Total commitments to the fund, which aims to assist developing countries vulnerable to climate change impacts, amounted to over $600 million as of early this year.
Suspension order
In November that year, DENR announced that its cumulative assessment of reclamation projects could be finished within a year. However, a few days later they confirmed that two reclamation projects were able to pass their compliance review, prompting the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) to approve the projects’ resumption.
These projects were the Pasay 265, a joint venture with Pasay Harbor Corp. covering 265 hectares, and Pasay 360 with SM Smart City Infrastructure and Development Corp., which will be connected to the SM Mall of Asia complex.
‘Agenda’ for Marcos
Greenpeace Philippines campaigner Khevin Yu said the situation called for urgent moves for “climate justice.”
“These torrential rains give yet another picture of extreme weather in a climate changed world,” he said. “Filipinos are calling for climate justice. President Marcos must champion policies to help facilitate access to justice for communities.”
The group’s outline of a “Climate Action Agenda” for the President includes enactment of the Climate Accountability Bill, litigating carbon majors for climate impact damages, and championing innovative sources of finance for loss and damage.
“This will likely not be the last, or the worst, storm we will face this year. Climate impacts will continue to escalate,” Yu said.
He said Greenpeace volunteers had visited Barangay Banaba in San Mateo town, Rizal, one of the provinces that experienced relentless torrential rains on Wednesday, and found flood-control structures incomplete and falling apart.
“It is small communities like Banaba, with poor infrastructure, that are affected the worst. For their sake, the Marcos administration must prioritize climate action,” Yu said.
Direct consequences
Bayan Muna Chair Neri Colmenares called for an immediate halt to all reclamation activities in Manila Bay.
“The massive flooding we are witnessing in Metro Manila, particularly in areas like Malabon, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Marikina, Caloocan and Rizal where floodwaters have reached second floors, is a direct consequence of these reckless reclamation projects,” he said. “It’s clear that these projects are exacerbating the vulnerability of our communities to climate-related disasters.”
Colmenares also questioned the effectiveness of the government’s flood control efforts in the “New Philippines.”
“Is this what President Marcos Jr. was boasting about in his State of the Nation Address on Monday, that they’ve completed so many flood control projects?” he said.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros said her office would reach out and provide assistance to those affected by the floods and other emergencies brought about by the typhoon.
Sen. Robinhood Padilla said his office had set up hotlines to help those affected by the calamity.
Padilla’s office is coordinating with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and other agencies to respond to calls for help. —WITH A REPORT FROM INQUIRER RESEARCH
