Church to campaign vs Laguna Lakeshore

MANILA, Philippines - At least five Catholic dioceses have joined the campaign against the P123-billion Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike project.

The archdiocese of Manila and the dioceses of Antipolo, Pasig, Parañaque and San Pablo, Laguna vowed to support other faith-based groups and people’s organizations in opposing the project, the CBCPNews reported yesterday. 

“The Church should be at the forefront of this advocacy. It’s a moral imperative or duty,” said Monsignor Jerry Bitoon, diocesan director of the ministry on ecology of San Pablo.

Bitoon said Pope Francis spoke clearly on the need to care for the environment in his encyclical on climate change titled “Laudato Si.”

Bitoon said they would raise public awareness on the proposed project through consultative forums. 

The project involves land reclamation as well as the construction of a toll road between Taguig City and Los Baños in Laguna and a 45-kilometer flood control dike along Laguna de Bay.

“We consulted scientists and environmentalists who said the project may endanger the environment,” Bitoon said.

Geologist Kelvin Rodolfo earlier warned that the planned 700-hectare reclamation would reduce the size of the lake and worsen flooding in nearby areas.