Duterte urged to ban all Manila Bay reclamation projects

MANILA, Philippines — Environment and fisherfolk groups on Tuesday questioned President Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement that he would ban private reclamation projects in Manila Bay, while allowing those backed by local governments or given prior approval.

Allowing any form of reclamation in the historic bay would go against the government’s ongoing rehabilitation program, they said.

“What use is the prohibition of new reclamation projects if the existing ones you will allow will do the job of destroying the last remaining coastal greenbelts in Manila Bay and other coastal areas in the Philippines?” said Leon Dulce, convenor of the People’s Network for the Integrity of Coastal Habitats and Ecosystems (People’s NICHE).

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