Gadon to DENR: Come up with ‘clear’ policy on Manila reclamation project

Presidential Adviser for Anti-Poverty Alleviation Secretary Larry Gadon, with business group leader Sergio Ortiz, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and labor leaders from the government and private sectors, on Friday called the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to come up with a clear policy on the reclamation projects at the Manila waterfront.

In a Partners' Forum at Quezon City Sports Club, Gadon said while he supported the decision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suspending the 22 reclamation projects around the country, "due to alleged violations divulged by DENR", the "strict compliance to all regulations" by the proponents of the two reclamations projects the President has exempted "will ensure sustainability of the benefits that will be derived from the projects."

"I am only concerned with job generations. The Marcos Administration is aware that the best solution to poverty alleviation is job generation, hence the passage of the "Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act. Aside from the job generation, I believe it is important that there will be new tax sources and government proprietary income to sustain social benefit programs," Gadon said.

Ortiz on the other end said the DENR is harping on "potential violations" giving the country an estimated P40 million in losses every day over the stalled two projects in the metropolis bay, particularly in the Pasay City area which were planned in 2017.

"Malaki ang magiging benefits dito, stalling it will derail economic growth (from these projects). Architech Palafox even has a study conducted on the projects, it may serve as a barrier for tsunamis," Ortiz explained.

Amorsolo Competente, Lakas Manggagawa Labor Center representing workers from the private sector said not only hundreds but thousands of Filipino workers will benefit from the two reclamation projects in Pasay City.

"Reclamation is not bad. Singapore and Tell Aviv sea fronts are reclaimed areas. Even the critics there are now also benefitting from that reclamation projects," Competente said.

Christopher Bautista, president of the Kapisanan ng mga Manggagawa sa GOCC at GFIs (Goverment Owned Controlled Corporation, Goverment Financial Institutions) cited the Philippine Reclamation Authority which is their affiliate, that "already pronounced the Pasay reclamation projects are complaint."

"We're one with Secretary Gadon. We should not be reactive to this issue. Makakasama na sa ating ekonomiya, masisira pa ang imahe ng bansa (foreign investors). We are pushing for 'ease of doing business', pagkatapos ang mga ganitong projects hahadlangan natin," Bautista said.

The group said DENR should focus on segment assessment of every reclamation project.