MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) has reiterated its call for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to uphold the suspension order on all reclamation projects in Manila Bay.
This came after it underscored in a statement on Tuesday that there was a notice from the Bacoor City, Laguna local government, 鈥渙rdering the dismantling of floating huts (floating kubo) in the town鈥檚 municipal water.鈥�
Over 100 fisherfolk families affected
Palamakaya stated that more than 100 fisherfolk families received the notice of the dismantling of the floating huts last week.
They believe the notice aims to 鈥減ave the way for the 420-hectare reclamation project of the Frabelle Fishing Corp. and the Bacoor City local government.鈥�
Pamalakaya underscored that the project is among the suspended reclamation projects, in accordance with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.鈥檚 order in August 2023.
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鈥淚t was against our will to be removed from the coastal areas and relocated to a distant place, so many of us were forced to return here to Bacoor and build temporary shelters on the beach where our livelihood is,鈥� Danilo Falce, an affected resident and a local member of Pamalakaya, said.in Filipino.
鈥淢any are also victims of successive fires who were not allowed to build houses on their lots after the tragedy,鈥� he added.
鈥�So it is not reasonable for the local government to simply evict us without proper relocation near the coast,鈥� he added.聽
Request for a dialogue
Pamalakaya said it has sent a letter to the DENR on Monday, June 9, to request for a dialogue on Wednesday to urge the agency to 鈥渦phold and implement the ongoing suspension of reclamation projects in Manila Bay.鈥�
In the letter, the group said that they are 鈥渇ully aware of the adverse ecological and socio-economic impacts of reclamation, as proven by the agency鈥檚 recent cumulative impact assessment.鈥�
鈥淎mong the agendas of our requested dialogue is to urge your agency to uphold and implement the ongoing suspension of reclamation projects in Manila Bay,鈥� the letter also read.
Falce told the that they have yet to receive a confirmation from the DENR with regard to their request for the dialogue.
He added that they will conduct a protest in front of the DENR office in Quezon City on Wednesday to amplify their calls against the reclamation project.聽