It bears stressing that large-scale reclamation projects have been sprouting all over the country. These include the following:

• 174 hectare-reclamation along Dumaguete City’s coastline, 
• 230-hectare reclamation in Consolacion, Cebu, 
• 100-hectare reclamation in Minglanilla, Cebu, 
• the 23 reclamation projects in Manila Bay, in various stages of development, among others. 

These projects lead to dumping and filling of materials that devastate further and kill our once-rich coastal and marine ecosystems. These not only have negative and irreversible impacts on our coasts, but also to the areas, where the filling materials are sourced.

The Philippines is known as the center of the center of marine biodiversity as it is found at the apex of the Coral Triangle. However, this reputation may soon be lost with the wholesale approval of large-scale reclamation, aptly described as dump-and-fill projects all over the country. Similar massive projects in the past have already destroyed thousands of hectares of mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs and irreversibly destroyed fishing grounds, thereby displacing hundreds of thousands of the fisherfolks and their families, despite the social justice provision in the Constitution that our small-scale fisherfolks have preferential access to marine resources. Mangrove forest cover used to be 450,000 hectares in 1918 but at present, only less than 240,000 ha are left. 

Willful destruction of our biodiversity is illegal because it violates our Constitutional right to a balanced and healthful ecology and displaces the artisanal fishers. It is also illegal under several environmental laws, as follows: 

• Amended Fisheries Code (Republic Act 10654), which punishes destruction of marine habitats, mangrove conversion, causing aquatic pollution, etc.
• Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (Act) (RA 11038), which prohibits acts that destroy habitats and resources inside protected areas
• Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act (RA 9147), which punishes acts that destroy wild flora and fauna, especially inside critical habitats
• Clean Water Act (RA 9275), which penalizes the deposit of material of any kind into water bodies which could cause water pollution or impede natural flow in the water body
• Environmental Impact System Act (PD 1586), which prescribes a full-blown environmental impact assessment process for fisheries as an environmentally critical area, taking into account not only of the environmental impacts but the social acceptability of the reclamation project
• National Cultural Heritage Act (RA 10066), which disallows modification and alternation of national landmarks like Manila Bay and other declared historical sites.
• Local Government Code (RA 7160), which prescribes mandatory requirements, such as a national law and plebiscite, for substantial alteration of boundaries of local government and amount to illegal disbursements of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) to local government units.
• Climate Change Act (RA 9729) which declares as a state policy the integration in various phases of policy formulation, development plans, poverty reduction strategies and other development tools and techniques by all agencies and instrumentalities of the government. 

Dump-and-fill projects hide behind the promise of economic progress and infrastructure development at the expense of the environment, as well as the socio-economic welfare and livelihoods of many marginalized Filipinos, especially our fisherfolks. These projects cause irreversible damage to environmental, socio-economic, and cultural identities of the people. What are at direct risk in all these dump-and-fill projects are the food security and self-sufficiency of coastal residents, especially the municipal fisherfolk and other sectors whose livelihood are directly dependent on the fisheries and aquatic resources of their prime fishing grounds. These projects will literally decimate their means of survival and adds to their vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, which have to be factored in this time of the covid-19 pandemic and the climate crisis. 

It is worth noting that these massive projects were also introduced without adherence to the requirements of regularity, transparency, accountability, and participation by public and private proponents alike. The lack of public consultation is an alarming indication of the propensity by local government units and their officials of railroading the approval process to their own selfish advantage. Under existing laws, there must be full compliance of these requirements, especially by those chosen by the people to lead. They cannot decide without prior, informed, and public consultation. They must strictly follow environmental laws before approving, or even considering, destructive and unsustainable development projects. 

The road to recovery from this pandemic must not be paved by ill-thought of intentions by a few. Rather the path chosen must be those agreed by and for the benefit of the majority of the people. We should also veer away from false, short term benefits but look into nature-based, sustainable solutions. 

These are our urgent calls.

We call on our government to impose a moratorium on the continuing approval of land reclamation or dump-and-fill projects, whether large or small. 

We also call on the government to immediately conduct an investigation on the highly irregular and questionable processes undertaken by local governments in approving these massive reclamation projects and hold accountable under existing laws all those who are responsible for failing to abide by existing laws. 

Finally, we call on the government to ensure that local government officials strictly follow environmental safeguards in approving and/or considering coastal land reclamation projects.