SENATOR Joel Villanueva asked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) whether there’s a correlation between the on-going reclamation in Manila Bay and the worsening of flooding incidence in areas surrounding the body of water.
During the Senate inquiry into the recent devastating flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, Villanueva said he observed that the flooding in Bulacan worsened when reclamation projects in Manila Bay started in the 90s. He wondered whether the reclamation project contributed to the worsening of the flooding situation surrounding Manila Bay.
Responding to Villanueva’s inquiry, Environment and Natural Resources Sec. Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said initial findings show reclamation projects in Manila Bay will slow down the flow of water and the change in the body of water “has been for the negative.”
“I appreciate what you’ve share with us… these are very important information and the way I look at it, you don’t break the natural law,” the senator said on Thursday, August 1, 2024.
