Manila bay reclamation projects in limbo?

A MAN fishes in Manila Bay which can hardly sustain marine life with fecal coliform levels of 330 million to a billion MPN (most probable number) per 100 milliliters. BOB DUNGO JR.

An official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) yesterday warned that several proposed reclamation projects in Manila Bay may be rejected if they would prove to be environmentally unsound.

DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said while there is no ban on reclamation projects per se, their proponents should apply for all the necessary permits while keeping in mind the government’s thrust to rehabilitate the polluted bay.

“There is no ban to applying; we are not saying that it is prohibited. We just want all of them to comply with standards,” said Antiporda on a radio interview.

“Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu will not allow the projects if they would impact on the environment (negatively),” the DENR official added.

Earlier, Antiporda had said the DENR had already identified several establishments – hotel and restaurants, among them – that were dumping untreated sewage into Manila Bay.

At least five firms are seeking government approval to reclaim 1,854 hectares from the bay, roughly the size of Pasay City.

The impact of the reclamation projects on the bay’s rehabilitation was discussed Tuesday during a meeting of government agencies overseeing the bay clean-up.

Water concessionaires, which charge their customer environmental fees to take care of their sewerage, will also pass by a review of the DENR, Antiporda said.

Water quality testing by the DENR showed fecal coliform in Manila Bay to be about 330 million to over a billion MPN (most probable number) per 100 milliliters vis-à-vis the acceptable standard of 100MPN/mL.

Revenue from the road user’s tax totaling some P47 billion is being eyed by government to fund the rehabilitation which, according to one urban planner, said could take four years.