TWENTY-two reclamation projects have been recorded by the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) nationwide.
Of this number, 13 reclamation projects are in Manila Bay covered by Region 3, National Capital Region (NCR), and Region 4-A.
Atty. Joselito Gonzales the Assistant General Manager for Technical & Land Development of PRA, shared that out of 13 projects in Manila Bay, only 2 have been approved by the government to continue and it is located in the local government of Pasay.
In this regard, the PRA official has ensured a thorough study specifically on the impact of these projects, particularly on the environment.
Especially, according to him, that Metro Manila suffered from severe flooding brought by the southwest monsoon intensified by typhoon Carina.
‘‘That is what we strictly focus on with all projects reclamation goes through a thorough study before being approved by the agency,’’ according to Atty. Joselito Gonzales, Asst. GM for Technical & Land Dev’t., PRA.
Meanwhile, Atty. Joseph John Literal, Asst. General Manager for Reclamation of PRA stated that there are also measures that the agency considers before pursuing a reclamation project.
He said the feasibility study is included in the mandatory requirements of the PRA to approve a reclamation.
This also includes the environmental compliance certificate from the DENR, area clearance from the DENR, and hydrodynamic modeling.
‘‘Hydrodynamic modeling is hydrodynamic and morphologic studies. This is the center of the impact of coastlines on affected communities. So, without one of those four, the PRA cannot approve a reclamation project,’’ Atty. Joseph John Literally, Asst. GM for Reclamation, PRA, said.
The PRA is the one that gives the go signal for an area to do reclamation activities.
It can be remembered that some senators blamed the Manila Bay reclamation projects as one of the causes of the widespread flooding in Metro Manila when Habagat and Typhoon Carina struck.
They said, that because of the reclamation, the flood water can no longer go out from the city of Pasay towards the sea.
In this regard, some legislators have also lambasted the P1-B-a-day budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways for flood control projects.
