Dennis Gasgonia

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ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Taytay, Rizal residents on Wednesday took a major step seeking to nullify the public scoping last July 14 for the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network (LLRN) Project Phase II.The Alliance of People&#x27;s Organizations in Lupang Arenda (APOLA) and Samahan ng Mangingisda sa Lawa ng Taytay (SMALT), composed mainly of Taytay residents, filed a formal complaint at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental Management Bureau in an effort to stop the project.The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), together with APOLA, SMALT, and other affected residents, walked out of the public scoping after the local government unit (LGU) failed to include the organizations and other homeowner associations in the Information drive.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/11/8/laguna-lake-expressway-to-be-partly-funded-by-adb-1522" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Laguna Lakeshore expressway to be partly funded by ADB</a></div>The information and education campaign is supposedly conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Natural Resources (DENR).“[Kahit] naglaan naman sila ng oras para sa isang [pribadong pulong], hindi pa rin nila pinakinggan yung hinaing ng mga tao. Itinuloy pa rin nila ang public scoping [kahit] ang karamihan sa kanilang inimbita ay di dumaan sa IEC,” said SMALT Secretary Jessa Sabio,&quot; the PMCJ said in a statement.(Even though they provided a chance for a private meeting, they still didn&#x27;t listen to the people&#x27;s grievances. They still went ahead with public scoping even most of those they invited didn&#x27;t go through the IEC.)The residents asserted that the proceeding is void from the beginning due to systemic violations of the mandatory requirements under DENR Administrative Order (DAO) 2017-15 and DAO 2003-20, as well as the fundamental principles of the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System.The public scoping was initially scheduled on March 21, 2025, but PMCJ and the Lupang Arenda community halted it because of the similar disregard for mandatory processes.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/7/16/neda-board-approves-terms-for-laguna-lakeshore-project-bohol-laguindingan-airports-1759" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NEDA Board approves terms for Laguna Lakeshore project, Bohol, Laguindingan airports</a></div>“The DENR must ensure that its own regulations are followed by project proponents. If at the outset something as basic as public participation activities like public scoping are not properly conducted, what assurance do we have that the proponent would abide by environmental laws during the construction and operation of the project?&quot; said Aaron Pedrosa, head of PMCJ’s legal team.&quot;That EMB should sanction an illegal public scoping has been an observed trend across the country. Government agencies are violating their own mandate&quot; The LLRN, which involves a 7.94-kilometer road, a 6.81-kilometer viaduct/bridge, a 1.13-kilometer embankment, and three interchanges with 1.92 kilometers of slip roads, aims to improve connectivity, reduce traffic congestion, and enhance economic productivity in the Calabarzon Region and National Capital Region.But APOLA president Enteng Vicente Barlos stressed that implementing agencies are literally &quot;going around&quot; the affected communities.“Ang public scoping ay ginawa sa lugar na hindi naman sakop ng proyekto. Ito ay nagdudulot ng kalituhan sa aming mga residente. Dapat sumunod ang mga ahensya ng gobyerno sa batas! Nais lamang namin na masiguro ang aming mga karapatan,” he said. (Public scoping was done in an area not part of the project. That has brought confusion to residents. Agencies should follow the law. All we want is to ensure out rights)

Taytay, Rizal residents on Wednesday took a major step seeking to nullify the public scoping last July 14 for the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network (LLRN) Project Phase II.

Taytay, Rizal residents on Wednesday took a major step seeking to nullify the public scoping last July 14 for the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network (LLRN) Project Phase II.

Taytay residents file complaint vs Laguna Lake project's ‘illegal’ public scoping

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Taytay residents file complaint vs Laguna Lake project's ‘illegal’ public scoping

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 31, 2025 09:50 PM PHT

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