No consent from Duterte to push through with Manila Bay reclamation projects —Nograles

President Rodrigo Duterte has not approved reclamation activities in Manila Bay, a Malacañang official said Tuesday.

“Unless you see a paper to that effect signed by him, then no, status quo pa rin,” Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said during a virtual press briefing.

Nograles issued the clarification after Duterte on Monday hinted at allowing reclamation projects in exchange for food assistance amid the public health emergency caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

“Talagang ako handa akong ipagbili ‘yung buong Dewey Boulevard sa gustong mag-reclaim. Bigyan ninyo ako ng bigas, i-approve ko ‘yung -- kasi hindi ako pumayag na mag-reclaim,” Duterte said.

“[T]he City of Manila, given its lack of ‘yung water treatment o treatment sa waste wala, so ‘pag ganon ang ginawa mo, patay ang Maynila.”

Duterte said in February said he would no longer allow massive land reclamations by the private sector until the end of his term in 2022. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News