THE House Committee on Ways and Means, chaired by Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, met on Monday to discuss the revenue and economic impacts of the recent suspension of reclamation projects approved by the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA).
Rep. Salceda explained that reclamation projects offer immense economic opportunities and opportunities to expand fiscal space. He then mentioned that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) temporarily suspended 22 reclamation projects in Manila Bay for a review on their Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) and area clearances.
Rep. Salceda said that the Committee would look into the possibility of formulating frameworks for reclamation development that optimize revenues for the government, while ensuring ecological and social sustainability. “Ultimately, the aim of this briefing is to check the benefits and costs of reclamation projects, whether we can maximize benefits while keeping social, environmental, and ecological costs to an acceptable minimum,” he added.
PRA Acting General Manager (GM) Atty. Joseph John Literal described reclamation projects as safe, reliable, and sustainable, as demonstrated by the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex-Financial Center Area (CCP-FCA) and the SM Mall of Asia. He cited the multiplier effect of reclamation projects on business and commercial activities, creating jobs and spurring economic activities and generating billions of pesos in government revenues, as some of the benefits of reclamation projects. To address environmental concerns, Acting GM Literal reported the PRA’s issuance of Administrative Order No. 2019-05 mandating the integration of greenspaces in reclamation projects.
The panel will reconvene next week to confer with DENR and other agencies involved in reclamation projects.
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