By Jun Burgos
THE US Embassy’s airing of its concern on the involvement of a Chinese firm in the reclamation in the Philippines seemed to have somehow triggered a barrage of expression of so many opinions from various groups and personalities regarding the reclamation projects.
Many of them have been talking about their perceived negative effects that reclamation could pose, such as massive flooding, destruction of ecosystem, economic dislocation of fishermen, etc., including the effect on the view of the world-famous Manila Bay sunset.
In all of these, not a few observers have noticed the deafening silence of reclamation proponents and advocates.
Where are the stakeholders? Where are the project owners/holders? Where are the sectors that are the target beneficiaries of the projects? It has been said many times that local government units (LGUs), the citizens and other stakeholders would definitely gain much from these reclamation projects such as in terms of increased revenues and progress for the LGU, and jobs and basic social services for the citizens. In my succeeding write-ups, I would try to present vital discussion points regarding the expected social benefits of reclamation. For now, however, I would take note of the points raised by a world-renowned personality who is an expert in reclamation projects.
He is Architect Jun Palafox, an Urban planner and Environment planner. He has already done projects in 40 countries. Architect Palafox has been quoted as saying, “Progressive countries and cities are doing more reclamation/man-islands, to add to urban land supply (with the very high priced land values of CBDs, cities, metropolitan areas), entice foreign investors, create more jobs,.. …these man-made islands can be planned and designed to be developed to address sea-level rise, replace coastal cities and communities that will be flooded by sea-level rise and land subsidence, act as wave breakers to protect mainland against storm surges and tsunamis… …as long as these reclamation projects are planned and designed properly, engineered properly, implemented properly. Environmental and security concerns can be addressed thru proper planning and design, engineering, implementation.”
These points stated by Architect Palafox are really sharp, concise and easily comprehensible. He is indeed an expert on this matter. It would be good if more experts would come out in the open and share their own knowledge and views about these reclamation projects so that the people, and the government, would be completely informed and enlightened about this matter.
About Jun Burgos: • Former Quezonian Editor • Former CEGP Member • Former National Press Club of the Philippines Member • Former National Press Club of Canberra, Australia Member • Former Association of Certified Money Laundering Specialists Member. He is a former journalist, former Information Attaché, former communications strategist of late Senate President Edgardo Angara and Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, former CEO of FinTech company and former Pasay LGU PIO. At present, he is a consultant of overseas manpower agency with no derogatory records since 2004.
