Pasay City-backed reclamation projects resume

After a three-month halt, the Pasay City-backed reclamation projects in Manila Bay will now resume with authorization from no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, the chairperson of the House committee on ways and means, which held numerous hearings on the revenue and economic impacts of continuing delay of various reclamation initiatives, confirmed on Tuesday that the President allowed the resumption of the reclamation efforts under the Pasay Eco-City Coastal Development Projects.

The Pasay Eco-City endeavor includes the 360-hectare reclamation project under a joint venture with SM Smart City Infrastructure and Development Corporation, dubbed "Pasay 360," and 265-hectare offshore called "Pasay 265," a "new cosmopolitan, eco-friendly and iconic waterfront city," under JV with the Pasay Harbor City Consortium.

The Office of the President, however, has yet to release a statement on the resumption.

Salceda thanked Marcos for recognizing the panel's diligent efforts in highlighting the fiscal and economic implications of the prolonged suspension of the projects.

"As we emphasized during the hearings, Pasay City is, in fact, a very strong case for responsible reclamation. Historical flooding maps show that the existing Pasay reclamation projects have, in fact, provided flood protection," Salceda said.

This stands in contrast to areas without a reclamation project fronting their shore, which has encountered a higher incidence of flooding than areas with a reclamation project, the economist-lawmaker added.

The Pasay-led venture was one of many reclamation projects halted pursuant to Mr. Marcos' order last August, pending further study into its environmental impact, approved by the Philippine Reclamation Authority.

Based on the panel's estimation, the resumption of the two reclamation projects could yield as much as P563 billion in real estate assets for the government.

Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano thanked Mr. Marcos, saying the lifting of the suspension "will pave the way for the resumption of development activities with the end goal of helping further boost the economy and providing needed revenue to the government."

During last week's hearing, Pasay administrator Peter Manzano touted that the city government-backed projects are expected to generate over one million jobs and more than P1.3 trillion in revenue from investments in Pasay City alone.

Back in August, Mr. Marcos ordered the temporary halt of 22 reclamation projects in Manila Bay to assess the environmental and social consequences, citing several issues in the projects' implementation.

Salceda previously forecasted that the Philippines stands to lose P432 billion in the next five years should the reclamation projects remain suspended.