President Bong Bong Marcos issued an official statement last Monday (07 Aug 2023) announcing the suspension of activities on the reclamation project in Bulacan and Manila Bay.
However, there appears to be a contradiction between the official stance of the Chief Executive and the ongoing actions on the ground.
Despite the suspension, enormous quantities of sand continue to be deposited into the reclamation zones spanning 38,000 hectares within Manila Bay and an additional 26,232 hectares along its coastline.
Featured images here can attest to the seemingly “unstoppable” reclamation activities despite the calls from lawmakers from the Upper Chamber and Lower House.
Environmental groups also called on concerned government agencies to study the repercussions of reclamation projects in the long haul. (ai/mnm/BENJAMIN CUARESMA)
