OPINION
Ed Javier
Manila Bay Reclamation: The Man-Made Disaster Drowning Paranaque, Las Pinas, And The Metro
Photo credit: Marikina PIO
About 10 years ago, we penned a column titled "Birds or Big Business?" where we raised concerns about the massive reclamation projects proposed for the coastal waters in my hometown of Parañaque and in Las Piñas.
At that time, we warned of the potential flooding risks that these projects could bring, particularly to the low-lying areas of these "twin cities." Sadly, those fears have now become our harsh reality.
The recent heavy rains brought by Typhoon Enteng have confirmed what the old folks of Parañaque from Barangays Don Galo, San Dionisio, Tambo, Sto. Niño, and La Huerta were saying—that these reclamation projects, combined with extreme weather conditions, have turned Parañaque, Las Piñas, and adjoining cities in the Metro into flood zones, affecting countless lives and livelihoods.
Fortunately, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has since halted the implementation of the reclamation projects in Manila Bay, which were initiated before his term. However, the damage has already been done. Today, if you stand in front of Manila Bay, the waters are no longer visible—buried under layers of filling materials.
These reclamation efforts have drastically altered the landscape, worsening the flooding issues. Water will always find a path, and if it can no longer escape through the bay due to reclamation, it will seek alternative routes, leading to the widespread floods now plaguing the metro.
We hope it is not true, but talks are rife that more than 5,000 flood control projects, supposedly worth hundreds of billions, implemented in recent years have yielded little to no visible results.
One thing is certain, however: our countrymen, especially my kababayans in Parañaque, Las Piñas, and other cities across the metro, who have endured flooding over the past two months, cannot feel the benefits of these projects. Dredging, desilting, and drainage initiatives, often cited as prone to corruption, have not made the expected impact.
Former Senator Ping Lacson gave perhaps the most straightforward explanation for why people cannot feel the impact of these flood control projects. He stated, "It is because most of the budget for the flood control projects floods the pockets of the proponents in Congress, in connivance with the implementing agencies and their favorite contractors." It’s hard to disagree with him.
This situation brings to mind the infamous PEA-Amari deal, which was struck down by the Supreme Court for being unconstitutional. Yet here we are again, watching as a similar project—cloaked in secrecy and lacking transparency—unfolds with disastrous consequences.
It is disheartening to see how these reclamation projects, reportedly led by an influential family of national and local politicians, have managed to skirt around the Supreme Court’s ruling, disguising themselves as joint venture projects with various local government units. Whether these arrangements genuinely comply with legal standards is a question best left to legal experts.
It is troubling that the concerns we raised years ago were dismissed or ignored, as powerful business interests pushed forward with these reclamation projects.
While the proponents stand to earn hundreds of billions of pesos, our countrymen are deprived of their income, struggling to work, send their children to school, and meet their daily needs due to the massive flooding caused by these greedy endeavors.
The reclamation was touted as progress, but at what cost? Today, we are witnessing the consequences of sidelining environmental considerations and local wisdom for the sake of profit.
We hope our economic managers can also quantify our losses daily every time the government has to suspend work or classes, in terms of lost economic opportunities—not to mention the anxiety, sleepless nights, and danger we face whenever there is rain and flooding.
As we grapple with the flooding crisis, it is crucial to reflect on whether the short-term gains from such reclamation projects are worth the long-term damage to our communities.
The freedom islands, once a sanctuary for birds and a natural buffer for our cities, have been transformed into a battleground between nature and unchecked development.
The question now is, will our leaders finally listen to the concerns of their constituents? Or will history repeat itself, leaving ordinary Filipinos to bear the brunt of decisions made behind closed doors?
The floods we are seeing today are not just a natural disaster—they are a man-made catastrophe that could have been prevented.
It is a reminder that in the tug-of-war between big business, moneyed politicians and environmental preservation, it is the people who stand to lose the most.
At that time, we warned of the potential flooding risks that these projects could bring, particularly to the low-lying areas of these "twin cities." Sadly, those fears have now become our harsh reality.
The recent heavy rains brought by Typhoon Enteng have confirmed what the old folks of Parañaque from Barangays Don Galo, San Dionisio, Tambo, Sto. Niño, and La Huerta were saying—that these reclamation projects, combined with extreme weather conditions, have turned Parañaque, Las Piñas, and adjoining cities in the Metro into flood zones, affecting countless lives and livelihoods.
Fortunately, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has since halted the implementation of the reclamation projects in Manila Bay, which were initiated before his term. However, the damage has already been done. Today, if you stand in front of Manila Bay, the waters are no longer visible—buried under layers of filling materials.
These reclamation efforts have drastically altered the landscape, worsening the flooding issues. Water will always find a path, and if it can no longer escape through the bay due to reclamation, it will seek alternative routes, leading to the widespread floods now plaguing the metro.
We hope it is not true, but talks are rife that more than 5,000 flood control projects, supposedly worth hundreds of billions, implemented in recent years have yielded little to no visible results.
One thing is certain, however: our countrymen, especially my kababayans in Parañaque, Las Piñas, and other cities across the metro, who have endured flooding over the past two months, cannot feel the benefits of these projects. Dredging, desilting, and drainage initiatives, often cited as prone to corruption, have not made the expected impact.
Former Senator Ping Lacson gave perhaps the most straightforward explanation for why people cannot feel the impact of these flood control projects. He stated, "It is because most of the budget for the flood control projects floods the pockets of the proponents in Congress, in connivance with the implementing agencies and their favorite contractors." It’s hard to disagree with him.
This situation brings to mind the infamous PEA-Amari deal, which was struck down by the Supreme Court for being unconstitutional. Yet here we are again, watching as a similar project—cloaked in secrecy and lacking transparency—unfolds with disastrous consequences.
It is disheartening to see how these reclamation projects, reportedly led by an influential family of national and local politicians, have managed to skirt around the Supreme Court’s ruling, disguising themselves as joint venture projects with various local government units. Whether these arrangements genuinely comply with legal standards is a question best left to legal experts.
It is troubling that the concerns we raised years ago were dismissed or ignored, as powerful business interests pushed forward with these reclamation projects.
While the proponents stand to earn hundreds of billions of pesos, our countrymen are deprived of their income, struggling to work, send their children to school, and meet their daily needs due to the massive flooding caused by these greedy endeavors.
The reclamation was touted as progress, but at what cost? Today, we are witnessing the consequences of sidelining environmental considerations and local wisdom for the sake of profit.
We hope our economic managers can also quantify our losses daily every time the government has to suspend work or classes, in terms of lost economic opportunities—not to mention the anxiety, sleepless nights, and danger we face whenever there is rain and flooding.
As we grapple with the flooding crisis, it is crucial to reflect on whether the short-term gains from such reclamation projects are worth the long-term damage to our communities.
The freedom islands, once a sanctuary for birds and a natural buffer for our cities, have been transformed into a battleground between nature and unchecked development.
The question now is, will our leaders finally listen to the concerns of their constituents? Or will history repeat itself, leaving ordinary Filipinos to bear the brunt of decisions made behind closed doors?
The floods we are seeing today are not just a natural disaster—they are a man-made catastrophe that could have been prevented.
It is a reminder that in the tug-of-war between big business, moneyed politicians and environmental preservation, it is the people who stand to lose the most.
Sep 8, 2024
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