The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is monitoring the 22 ongoing reclamation projects in Manila Bay to ensure that no environmental law is violated, its Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said on Tuesday.
In a press briefing at the Malacañang, Loyzaga said they are looking at the compliance of the parties conducting the 22 reclamation projects.
"There's a discussion going with at least one party, they will be called for a technical conference to see whether kung may explanation sila doon sa in-observe na potential non-compliance," she added.
According to the DENR Secretary, they are also carefully looking into each of the party's Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs).
Loyzaga mentioned that the department is likewise conducting a cumulative impact assessment in the different reclamation projects.
"Ang nangyari kasi in the past, ang evaluation ng mga project na ito have been in an individual basis. Globally po, ang practice whenever you have several projects in a single ecosystem, you need a cumulative impact assessment and so we are undertaking that," she explained.
Loyzaga noted that the DENR is using the baseline of the Manila Bay development master plan, previously crafted during the Duterte administration, and comparing it with the description of all reclamation projects.
Earlier, various environmental groups urged President 'Ferdinand' Bongbong Marcos Jr. to review and revoke the Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) for the Manila Bay reclamation due to the possible impact on the country's coastal areas.
Groups like Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) earlier stated that these projects will directly affect the livelihoods of small fisherfolks, particularly in Cavite.
