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Environmental groups picketed in front of San Miguel Corporation in Pasig City on October 14, 2024, calling for justice and accountability from corporate entities allegedly responsible for environmental disasters in Manila Bay. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Environmental groups picketed in front of San Miguel Corporation in Pasig City on October 14, 2024, calling for justice and accountability from corporate entities allegedly responsible for environmental disasters in Manila Bay.
The groups raised concerns about the impacts of ongoing reclamation, increased flooding, and oil spills in Manila Bay on people's lives and livelihoods.
The protest coincided with the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR), highlighting the urgent need for regional cooperation in addressing disaster risks and ensuring accountability.

Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Environmental Groups Picket on Disaster Risk Reduction Conference

Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said the Philippine government cannot move forward with reclamation activities in Manila Bay after a study by the University of the Philippines validated concerns on the environmental impacts of the projects.</p><p>DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga made the statement after the University of the Philippines Marine Research Institute and the Marine Environment and Resources Foundation submitted a recently concluded cumulative impact assessment on Manila Bay reclamation projects.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/19/20-manila-bay-reclamation-projects-still-suspended-senator-1045" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">20 Manila Bay reclamation projects still suspended: senator</a></div><p>The study was commissioned by the DENR shortly after President Marcos Jr in 2023 suspended all but one of the Manila Bay reclamation projects and ordered the agency to review their effects to the environment.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/11/5/villar-more-research-needed-amid-renewed-push-for-manila-bay-reclamation-940" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cynthia Villar: More research needed amid &#x27;renewed push&#x27; for Manila Bay reclamation</a></div><p>“Ang findings talaga po ay maski anong gagawin na pagbabago sa physical environment sa Manila Bay, maaapektuhan talaga number one ang circulation ng tubig, so that means not just the bay itself, but ang paglabas ng tubig not just from the inland, at pagdrainage po sya into the Manila Bay,” Yulo-Loyzaga said in a televised briefing.</p><p>The DENR secretary said the study showed that the projects will affect flooding in Metro Manila, as it showed that many are not integrated into the flood management plan for the different local government units.</p><p>“Importante, we cannot move forward kung alam natin na ma-stuck ang tubig from our rivers, from our inland dito sa harap ng Manila Bay,&quot; she said.</p><p>Yulo-Loyzaga also voiced concerns that the developers have yet to disclose their water and power sources, as well as their waste management plan.</p><p>“Ang isa ay ang traffic management, kasi palabas, papasok, saan sila kokonekta, that’s another one. Another one po is saan kukuha ng tubig ang mga ito, saan kukuha ng kuryente? Papaano ang solid waste management plan? So yun talaga ang sinasabi namin ngayon kasi hindi mahanap-hanap sa mga sinubmit,” she said.</p><p>The DENR Secretary also said that the reclamation projects will negatively affect the livelihood of local fishermen in Manila Bay.</p><p>“We need to understand na buhay ang Manila Bay, so may nangyayaring fisheries doon so may madidisplace dapat may sagot din ang LGUs at partner nila kung paano nila pangangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mga communities na ang mga hanapbuhay ay nandyaan,” she said.</p><div><strong>RELATED STORY:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p6QerqV1X4I?&amp;ab_channel=ANC24%2F7autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174004264816920241014-manila-bay-protest-MD-7.jpg" style="width:300px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><p>“So lahat po yan social economic environmental and we have to consider everything that has been put on the table by the different components.”</p><p>Yulo-Loyzaga also noted that the reclamation activities will affect the government’s compliance with an earlier Supreme Court mandamus ruling that ordered government agencies to clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay, and restore and maintain its waters to swimming and recreation quality.</p><p>“So...circulation of water, drainage, traffic management, and the source of the different, pangangailangan &#x27;no, energy, water, and the different solid waste management systems, ito talaga ang medyo nachachallenge tayo ngayon and therefore that will be part of our submission of the report to the Supreme Court,” she said. </p>

<p>The DENR said the Philippine government cannot move forward with reclamation activities in Manila Bay after a study by the validated concerns on the environmental impacts of the projects.</p>

The DENR said the Philippine government cannot move forward with reclamation activities in Manila Bay after a study by the validated concerns on the environmental impacts of the projects.

Study shows Manila Bay reclamation will affect Metro Manila flooding: DENR

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Study shows Manila Bay reclamation will affect Metro Manila flooding: DENR

Pia Gutierrez,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 20, 2025 05:18 PM PHT

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