News Monitoring 02 17 2020
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DATE 12 17 20 4 DAY ki d tiNT NM-WS Strategic Communication and Initiative Service • t• STRATEGIC PHILIPPINE DAILY BALANCED NEWS • FEARLESS VIEWS BANNER EDITORIAL CARTOON k COMMUNICATION I PAGE 1 SIORT INITIATIVES PAGE EN mmEESFa/UMW SERVICE INQUIRER 02 17 2 0 FACE I/ DAIE DELI: ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT TO MANILA NO NEW RECLAMATION BY PRIVATE SECTOR IN MANILA BAY, SAYS DU30 By Leila B. Salaverria be environmentally at peril," he He also said the next admin- @LeilasINQ said. istration should study reclama- He also disclosed that many tion "very carefully" as Manila Citing an overburdened Manila, parties were lobbying for recla- was an old city. "Mt will decay if President Duterte said on Sat- mation, which was why he took you add so many things in front urday that he would not allow over the Philippine Reclama- of Manila Bay." any private entities to reclaim tion Authority (PRA). The fishermen's group Pama- land in the country's capital. "Every Tom, Dick and Harry lakaya has recorded a total of 43 Speaking at the inaugu- was following up. I said, 'No. No reclamation projects that will ration of the Sangley Airport reclamation," he said. cover almost 30,000 hectares of Development Project in Cavite In February 2019, the Presi- Manila Bay, including the three province, Mr. Duterte said he dent issued an executive order projects approved by the local would allow reclamation only transferring the PRA to the Of- government of Manila. for government projects and fice of the President. In his speech, the President those that had already been ap- praised Transportation Secre- proved. Approving power tary Arthur Tugade for accom- "I will not allow massive re- The order transfers the plishing much in the Sangley clamation for the private sector, power to approve reclamation airport using some P700 million not now. Because if you approve projects from the National Eco- in government funds. one, you approve all," he said. nomic and Development Au- "Look [at] what P700 million He said he was trying to be thority to the PRA. can do in the hands of a compe- fair and treat everybody equal- Those who want to reclaim tent, a bright... Ilocano, a tight- ly, but if he allowed reclamation, land should wait for the next wad," he said. Manila would suffer. administration, said Mr. Duter- He also said that for his last "But if I do that, which I am te. "You wait until the next flight home to Davao as Presi- wont to do, I will choke Manila. President, who might look at it dent, he would use the Sangley The entire Manila City would kindly, at a different lens." airport. MU tintATEGIc I -- I Liii 1"- [U • I COMMIINTI:ATION rAireffitl SUM! SO "IMMOS SWICP• ' A 02 17 2 0 - 1•Ant I/ HMI - Reclamation projects to choke Manila - Duterte By ALEXIS ROMERO President Duterte would not allow massive reclamation projects in Manila Bay, saying these would choke the city of Manila and imperil its environment. "Not during my time. Maybe, I will only al- For the next administration, whoever gets to be low reclamation if it is in connection with the the president, study it carefully," he said. "Be- government's projects. I will not allow reclama- ing an old city, it will decay if you add so many tion projects for the private sector because if things in front of Manila Bay.' you approve one, you approve all. That's how Around 10,000 hectares from Navotas City it is," Duterte said during the inauguration of to Cavite would be covered by the 25 proposed the Sartgley Airport development project in reclamation projects. Cavite on Saturday. Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) "You know, when you govern you try to, at general manager Joselito Gonzales said four least, be equal and fair. But if I do that, I will projects have been given notices to proceed: choke Manila," he added. Navotas City coastal bay, Horizon Manila 418, Duterte said the next president should look Pasay 360-hectare reclamation and the Pasay into the possible negative effects of the pro- 265-hectare reclamation project. posed reclamation projects. Groups of environmentalists and fishermen "The entire Manila city would be in danger. are opposed to these projects, which they said File photo shows environmentalists and fisherfolk protesting the proposed reclamation projects in Manila Bay. MIGUEL DE GUZMAN could destroy the country's ecosystem and The President cited the need to rationalize displace thousands of families. the approval process of reclamation projects Last year, Duterte signed Executive Order 74, toward an economically and environmentally which transferred the PRA to the Office of the sustainable development. President from the Department of Environment "No reclamation. You wait until the next presi- and Natural Resources amid the supposed lob- dent. They might look at it at a different perspec- bying for the approval of some projects. tive. But me, I'm just two years away," he said. 5 I :::::;r1111:3uf n i1444frilf) ' ' r71 I.-- I I COMAINNICATION II R rA I lin info 5104Y $101Y sersev."'W I- -I MANILIFAULLETIN mire!, OF.1111 THE NATIONFN tit', A Wm.: HEWSP A PER 1111r: AUT It Duterte won't allow Manila Bay reclamation By ARGYLL CYRUS B. GEDUCOS resident Duterte said he will never allow any massive rec- Duterte won't allow... lamation projects in Manila should just wait for the next admin- ready for that. I am not ready even Bay, saying it will put the p istration as his successor may have a to say I will grant it. Not in my nation's capital at peril. different view about it time," he said. In a speech in Cavite City Saturday "For the next administration, "As evening, Duterte said he will only al- long as there is no guarantee whoever gets to be the president of that the environment will be pro- low a reclamation if it is in connection this country, study it very carefully. with a government project. tected and thihealth of the people Because that Manila there, that old also safeguarded," he added. "Not during my time. I will only city is an old city and it will decay if "You have to make an audit now allow maybe plans of whatever rec- you add so many things in front of lamation if it is in connection with a of whether or not the environment Manila Bay," he said. of the entire area there can absorb government project. I will not allow In an interview with ABS-CBN the waste and where it will go after massive reclamation for the private last month, Duterte said reclaiming being treated. Because now, you sector. Not now. Because if I... if you 10 ,000 hectares of the Manila Bay must have water treatment. If you approve one, you approve all," he was almost "mind-boggling." He said. have a new building, make sure you said he was not ready to approve are connected to [a] water treat- "Ako ayaw ko, wala ako (I don't any reclamation project if there was want it, I will not approve anything). ment facility," he continued. no concrete plan showing how the In February last year, President Government projects maybe, except environment would be protected. for those na-approve na, wala na ako Duterte ordered the creation of the "That big [an area] is stupefy- Manila Bay Task Force to ensure the (except for those already approved ing. Mukhang (I think), I am not ... other than that, I won't allow it)," expedited and complete rehabilita- he added. The Philippine Reclamation Au- thority (PRA) said December last year that at least four reclamation projects tion, restoration, and conservation in Manila Bay were already given the of the coastal and marine ecosys- green light. tem of the bay. The projects approved included The Department of Environment the 360-hectare Navotas City Coastal and Natural Resources (DENR), Bay Reclamation Project, the 265 - which was named head of the task hectare Pasay Reclamation Project, force, was ordered to strictly en- and the 08-hectare Horizon Manila force the Philippine Clean Water Reclamation Project. Act on the conduct of containment, "The entire Manila City would be removal, and cleaning operations, environmentally at peril. So pag-aral- and the exercise of supervision and an ninyong mabuti c yan (You have to control on all aspects of water qual- study it carefully)," he said. ity management. Duterte said those interested 01 The agency was likewise tasked to monitor compliance with criti- cal environmental laws, rules and regulations; and issue notices of closure, cease and desist orders, and other appropriate sanctions to violators, including the filing of cases against erring govern- ment officials. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos) STRATEGIC I I [ I I . COSINIUNICATION arhiessmirror UPPER PAGE I RANNEX EORORIAl CARTOON Al SIOXY RORY INMATIVES SERVICE 0 Alimirrhkrtglitvien 02 17 20 Hia.15“, ipotAntis-Thil PAGE 7/ DATE Manila Bay not 100% spared from reclamation HERE may still be reclama- Manager Joselito Gonzales's pre- tion projects in Manila Bay vious assurance, that any reclama- Tunder the current adminis- tion projects in Manila Bay will not tration, after all. cause any flooding in Manila. During his speech at SangleyAir- As of December 2019, the PRA port's inauguration for commercial confirmedthere were fourapproved use on Saturday, President Duterte reclamation projects in Manila said government projects will be Bay: the Navotas City Coastal Bay exempted from the moratorium for Reclamation Project; the Pasay reclamationinitiativesinManilaBay. 360-Hectare Reclamation Project; "I will only allow, maybe, plans the Pasay265-Hectare Reclamation of whatever reclamation if it is in Project; and the Horizon Manila connectionwithagovemmentproj- 418-Reclamation Project.