Flood control? DENR flags Laguna de Bay reclamation

MANILA, Philippines — Flood control project or reclamation activity?

This is the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)’s urgent concern in Laguna de Bay, after flagging a supposed flood control project that turned out to be reclamation activities within the lake.

During the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget hearing before the Senate yesterday, DENR Undersecretary for integrated environmental science Carlos Primo David said they have identified several questionable projects presented as flood control initiatives but appeared otherwise, based on remote monitoring.

“This is a flood control project within Laguna de Bay, but if you look at the satellite images, they are actually reclamation projects within the lake right along C6,” David said.

“This is a different kind of issue because there are much, much more permits, environmental impact, maybe it even causes further flooding within the Laguna Lake area when you do reclamation projects,” he added.

David urged the DPWH and investigating bodies to look deeper into the findings, noting that the DENR’s role is limited to environmental monitoring.

Meanwhile, senators are looking to have the DPWH coordinate with the DENR and the National Irrigation Administration in implementing flood control projects across the country.

Sen. Loren Legarda said that studies on flood-control projects must be science-based, emphasizing the need for strong inter-agency coordination among water and environment agencies.

Reclamation activities around Laguna de Bay, the country’s largest inland lake, have continued to raise concerns over environmental compliance. The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) maintained that no reclamation permits or clearances have been issued for projects within the lake since April, yet some undertakings by local governments and private developers have proceeded without authorization.

The agency has been pursuing legal actions to challenge ownership claims in areas where reclamation and backfilling have been reported.

It has also identified ongoing activities along C6 Road involving both local government units and private entities. The LLDA noted that such developments pose potential risks to the lake’s ecological balance and could affect the region’s water supply.

Meanwhile, in a July 2025 directive, the Philippine Reclamation Authority reiterated that no reclamation project within Laguna de Bay has been approved and ordered the immediate cessation of any ongoing or proposed activities.

The PRA warned that any government office or local unit allowing reclamation without its clearance is violating national reclamation policy and environmental laws. Such activities, it added, are “void ab initio” and may expose involved parties to administrative, civil and criminal liability.

The revelation comes as the DPWH’s budget and project spending face mounting scrutiny amid allegations of ghost and anomalous flood control projects tied to potential kickback schemes.

Environmental experts and watchdogs have long warned that reclamation disguised as infrastructure development not only undermines flood management programs but also deepens flooding in Metro Manila and nearby low-lying areas that rely on Laguna de Bay’s natural capacity to absorb floodwaters.

The PRA said it is conducting a legal review, field validation and inter-agency coordination to identify violators and halt illegal operations in the area.

Meanwhile, communities around Laguna de Bay continue to suffer from recurring floods worsened by the lake’s siltation and reduced capacity to absorb rainwater.

In Biñan City, particularly in Barangays Dela Paz, Malaban and San Josef, floodwaters often submerge homes and roads for months, causing an estimated P50 million to P100 million in annual damage.

One of the contractors for a P200-million flood control project in Biñan is St. Matthew General Contractor and Development Corp., owned by the Discaya family – currently under probe for alleged flood control corruption.