MANILA, Philippines - President Duterte has approved the reclamation of Port Area in Manila for use as a commercial and industrial zone, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said yesterday.
In a telephone interview with The STAR, Estrada said the project “will not cause the government a single centavo because it will be undertaken through a joint venture agreement” between the city government and a private contractor.
He said he made the request during his meeting with Duterte in Malacañang on Monday afternoon.
Estrada stressed that the reclamation will not block the view of Manila’s famous sunset.
He said he also got Duterte’s approval for the city government to build a drug rehabilitation center in Manila’s property in Marikina.
“We didn’t talk about politics. He (Duterte) told me that he will help,” Estrada said.
Noting that “peace and order is necessary to bring in investments, Estrada said 92 percent of crimes committed in Manila are drug-related.