By Junex Doronio

FOR BLATANTLY DEFYING the marching order of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to stop the reclamation activities in Manila Bay, former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque has revealed that they are still ongoing.

Maharlika NuMedia gathered that included in the 12 ongoing reclamation projects is the P34.3-billion reclamation project of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s father, William Gatchalian.

Roque — who served as the presidential mouthpiece during the term of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte — posted a video on Facebook showing large ships conducting reclamation activities in Manila Bay.

Roque’s caption on his Oct. 9 post read: “Tuloy pa rin ang reclamation sa Manila Bay. Akala ko tinigil?”

During the recent hearing of the Senate committee on natural resources and climate change on Manila Bay reclamation projects, some port operators expressed their strong opposition against the P34.3-billion reclamation project of William Gatchalian, saying “it will change the route of ships at Manila Bay.”

Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Director William Cuñado told the senators that it was former EMB Director Metodio Torbilla who issued the Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) to the Waterfront Manila Premier Development Inc. (MWPDI) of William Gatchalian and two other similar initiatives in the cities of Manila and Pasay.

Last August, the United States Embassy in Manila also “expressed concerns” over the reclamation projects in Manila Bay, citing their impact on the environment. (ai/mnm)

“We are also concerned that the projects have ties to the China Communications Construction Co., which has been added to the US Department of Commerce’s Entity List for its role in helping the Chinese military construct and militarize artificial islands in the South China Sea. The company has also been cited by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank for engaging in fraudulent business practices,” US Embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay said in a statement released to reporters on Tuesday, August 1, and again on Wednesday, August 2.

The US Embassy is located at the Manila Bay on Roxas Boulevard.

(ai/mnm)