Philippine reclamations: How business and nature collide

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As private companies' participation and business interest in reclamations grow, advocates say disclosure and transparency efforts are needed to strengthen checks and balances.

during the late former president Benigno Aquino III’s term, is a contract between the government and a private actor to provide a public asset. Local reclamation initiatives are usually pursued using this framework, specifically by having joint venture agreements with respect to local PPP ordinances.wherein the private sector voluntarily pitches a project to the government. If attractive enough, the LGUs back the venture.

There seems to be no standards in the country’s laws on what constitutes a good and sustainable reclamation, she said, adding that this setup leaves the decision on the necessity of reclamations mostly with the LGUs. She said this is especially vital since based on her observation, many of these companies aren’t technically qualified to do reclamations. They instead contract outside partners for the dump-and-fill works of the projects.

Fernando Hicap, longtime chairperson of national small fisherfolk federation Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamalakaya ng PIlipinas , said that the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in the past two years have been used to quickly secure requirements for reclamations. With the lockdowns, fisherfolk and environmental advocates couldn’t organize to oppose the supposed railroading of some ventures.

While the PRA is the body mandated to both regulate and advance reclamations, Literal explained that at some point, approving or rejecting projects becomes “ministerial” for the agency since the basis of its assessment is whether or not the proponents have satisfied all of the requirements.

 

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