THE proposed twin land-reclamation projects of Bacoor City in the Province of Cavite could provide the needed additional space and features congruent with the Sangley Point International Airport (SPIA).
This was stressed by the Bacoor LGU in a statement, saying no less than the Provincial Government of Cavite, the proponent of SPIA, stressed that additional land-reclamation projects other than the SPIA development are necessary.
“In fact, the Sangley Point has been shown to be the most feasible area for the airport-seaport complex with enabling reclamation component. With this, it is necessary for Cavite to provide large parcels of land to accommodate the envisioned developmental growth,” the Bacoor LGU quoted the Provincial Government of Cavite in its application for environmental compliance certificate (ECC) for the proposed, 1,331-hectare Cavite Reclamation Project (CRP).
Last month, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the LGU of Bacoor, Cavite, the proponent of the project, resumed public hearings for the proposed 320-hectare Bacoor Reclamation and Development Project, and proposed 100-hectare Diamond Reclamation and Development Project.
Despite their promised benefits, the twin land-reclamation projects are being strongly opposed by residents of the coastal barangays who stand to lose their homes and livelihood.
On Monday, the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamama-lakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) held the Climate Strike to demand for climate action from the Duterte administration.
During the event, protesters raised the alarm over the recent study of the US-based science research organization Climate Central’s warning that within 30 years, around 8 million residents in Metro Manila would likely be submerged by the projected sea rise of about 2-7 feet, and possibly more.
They said this will be further aggravated by massive land reclamation, and repeated their call to the Duterte administration to stop all development projects related to land reclamation, also called dump-and-fill that destroys coastal and marine ecosystems like mangroves, seagrass beds and corals.
Joining the strike were members of the alliance Koalisyon Kontra Kumbersyon at Reklamasyon (KKKR). The reclamation projects along the Manila Bay “will not only affect the integrity of the Philippine marine and coastal ecosystems, but would also result [in] massive dislocation of fishing communities and make them more vulnerable to the devastating impacts of climate change,” they said.
Many residents in the Bacoor City’s coastal barangays still rely on fishing and farming oyster and mussel.
Bacoor City is strategically located, less than 30 kilometers away from Sangley and just 20 km away from Naia, and would provide an ideal location for the planned road connectors to both airports.
With a mixed-use development that includes residential, commercial, hotel and recreation, tourism, as well as a Science Park, the Bacoor reclamation projects would be able to accommodate a large portion of the foreign arrivals at SPIA.
In addition, the Bacoor reclamation projects are also meant to attract investments and new businesses, both foreign and local, whose operations would involve shipment of goods and travel of personnel utilizing either SPIA or the Naia.
Bacoor City leaders believe the proposed reclamation project would propel the city’s rise as a new growth center adjacent to Metro Manila, generate at least 700,000 new jobs for its residents and those in nearby areas, and enable the city government to improve the delivery of basic services for its people.
The reclamation projects are being pushed to provide additional land space necessary for new developments and accommodate the projected growth of the city’s population of around 600,000—seen to double by 2025. As of today, at least 73 percent of the city’s land area is devoted to residential use.
Bacoor leaders said the project will also hasten the Manila Bay cleanup drive in compliance with the 2008 mandamus of the Supreme Court with the in-city relocation of ISFs who are at risk in coastal areas. ISFs will be relocated at “Ciudad Kaunlaran in Molino II, while affected families of fishermen will be resettled at the “Fisherman’s Village” in Barangay Alima.