Save Manila Bay

Malate Church says No to Manila Bay Reclamation

As Malate Church sits right in front of Manila Bay, its life and history greatly intertwine. Since Ondoy in September 2009, Malate has seen annual flooding brought by climate change. With the reclamation of Manila Bay, the floods have worsened. The reclamation blocks the flow of flood water from the streets into the bay.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources:
“Reclamation projects will slow down the flow of water, and will change the circulation and retention of pollutants and organic materials that are already in the bay,” DENR Secretary Maria Yulo-Loyzaga added.

Several groups also oppose:
Agham (Advocates of Science and Technology for the People), opposes the 260-hectare reclamation despite possible economic benefit: “While proponents of these reclamation projects promise economic development, we see that environmental impacts outweigh economic development”. This will adversely affect the environment through mangrove cutting, seabed dredging and dumping of soil on the coast.

Agham pointed out that several geological hazards—such as rapid subsidence, storm surges, and seismically induced liquefactions—are present in coastal areas. Malate experienced 20-foot storm surge in 2011 during Pedring.

“Pamalakaya remains steadfast in our stand against any form of reclamation in Manila Bay because this will bring irreversible damage and destruction to our fisheries and marine resources, and massive displacement of fisherfolks and coastal residents,” according to Pamalakaya Spokesman Ronnel Arambulo.

The environmental impact of the Manila Bay reclamation can have long-term consequences for the residents and the bay’s ecosystem. While business and the economy is important, the government should immediately address and preempt these consequences.

Pope Francis’ Laudato Si on Life and Water resources

“For human beings… to destroy the biological diversity of God’s creation;
for human beings to degrade the integrity of the earth by causing changes in its climate,
by stripping the earth of its natural forests or destroying its wetlands;
for human beings to contaminate the earth’s waters, its land, its air, and its life – these are sins”.
Laudato Si 8

In assessing the environmental impact of any project, concern is usually shown for its effects
on soil, water and air, yet few careful studies are made of its impact on biodiversity, as if the loss
of species or animals and plant groups were of little importance.

Laudato Si 35

Moreover, biodiversity is considered at most a deposit of economic resources available for exploitation, with no serious thought for the real value of things, their significance for persons and cultures, or the concerns and needs of the poor.
Laudato Si 190

A technological and economic development which
does not leave in its wake a better world and an integrally higher quality of life
cannot be considered progress.
Laudato Si 194

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/08/01/2374666/changes-manila-bay-spell-ecological-economic-costs-denr

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2022/02/27/reclamation-projects-in-manila-bayenvironmental-impacts-vs-econ-benefits/

https://pinoybuilders.ph/5-facts-you-need-to-know-about-the-manila-bay-reclamation/

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