Groups seek to stop Parañaque bay project

MANILA, Philippines - Environmental groups are set to question before the Supreme Court (SC) Parañaque City’s approval of a proposed project to reclaim part of Manila Bay’s coastline.

The groups, which earlier questioned a similar project in Manila, said they are readying a petition for a writ of kalikasan questioning a contract forged by then mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr. and the city council with Avesco Marketing Corp. for the development of 111.8 hectares of land along the bay’s coastline.

A writ of kalikasan is a legal remedy in the SC providing protection to one’s right to “a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.” 

The groups want the SC to void the city council’s Resolution No. 13-026, which authorized Bernabe to accept Avesco’s unsolicited proposal to reclaim and develop certain areas of Manila Bay under a joint venture agreement.

The deal was approved by Councilors Alma Moreno, Jason Webb, Val Sotto and Roselle Nava. 

The groups – composed of Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas, Koalisyon Kontra Kumbersyon ng Manila Bay, Anakpawis party-list, Sagip Manila Bay Movement and Save Freedom Island Movement – have actively fought reclamation projects along Manila Bay.

Apart from filing the petition before the high court, the groups also said they are considering filing graft and administrative charges against Bernabe and other Parañaque officials involved in the project before the Office of the Ombudsman, saying it is disadvantageous to the city government and the environment.

Other projects

The groups earlier asked former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada to junk Ordinance  8223, which allows the Manila Gold Coast Corp. to revive and proceed with the reclamation of 148 hectares south of Manila along Roxas Boulevard. Estrada has yet to reply to their request.

They alleged that the project it would destroy the habitat of several species of birds, including some of the most endangered species in the world, such as the Philippine duck and the Chinese egret. 

The proposed reclamation will result in the habitat being cut off, isolated and segregated from Manila Bay, the groups said. The mangroves there would perish due to lack of saltwater, leading to the breakdown of the ecosystem. More than 5,000 birds will lose their home and, in all probability, eventually die, they added.

Sen. Cynthia Villar had filed a similar petition before the Court of Appeals questioning the Las Piñas coastal bay project, which she said would destroy the wildlife habitat in the area and expose the residents of the cities of Las Piñas, Parañaque and the municipality of Bacoor to a great risk of flooding.

Villar alleged that the project –headed by AllTech Contractors, Inc. in partnership with the city government led by her brother, Mayor Vergel Aguilar – would “inundate two-thirds of the entire areas of the cities of Las Piñas, Parañaque and Bacoor.” 

Last May, Villar asked the CA to reconsider its ruling dismissing her petition seeking to stop the project.