Bacoor reclamation projects seen to yield P1.8 billion annually

MANILA, Philippines — Development projects in Bacoor are being carried out in full consideration of environment preservation, said Bacoor City Mayor Lani Revilla.

These projects, which include the proposed 420-hectare reclamation projects along the city’s coast, are expected to provide the city of Bacoor in Cavite with  additional P1.8 billion annual revenue from tourism activities alone and create about 700,000 jobs for its residents and the entire province, the mayor said.

These include the proposed reclamation projects covering 420-hectare along the city’s coast, Revilla said.

The city mayor announced during the public hearing held last month that the proposed projects would incorporate in-city relocation, assuring the directly impacted informal settler families (ISFs) and fishermen against dislocation of job or livelihood.

The city government of Bacoor is the proponent of twin reclamation projects, namely Bacoor Reclamation and Development Project (BRDP) and the Diamond Reclamation and Development Project (DRDP).

BRDP has a total size of 320 hectares, while the DRDP consist of a 100-hectare island.

Revilla also said the in-city relocation and job generation component of the project adhere to key strategies identified by the the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) under its Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan, which includes “upgrading informal settlement through access to safe, affordable, and formal housing with access to basic services and economic opportunities.”

Likewise, Revilla said the city’s famous mussels and oyster industry which produces around 6,000 gallons of mussels daily, would continue to thrive along with the reclamation project.

The local government has tapped leading European engineering firms and scientific consultants for the reclamation projects.

Revilla claimed that the designers said the projects pose no significant adverse impact on the ecology of the adjacent areas, including the Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA).