Five presidential candidates weigh in on need to implement reclamation projects

Five presidential aspirants on Friday gave their position on the need to implement reclamation projects to boost the economy especially in the local government units.

During the KBP Presidential Forum, labor leader Leody de Guzman said only the big capitalists will benefit from reclamation projects while the environment is neglected.

“Ang nakikinabang lang sa reclamation na ‘yan ay malalaking kapitalista para gawin nilang industrial center o business center nila. Hindi nakikinabang ‘yung mga mamamayan d’yan (Only the big capitalists benefit from these reclamation projects to build their industrial or business center. It brings no benefit to the people),” he said.

“Ang napaparusahan pa ang ating environment, nasasalaula. Kaya ako hindi sang-ayon sa reclamation na ‘yan. Ang kailangan natin ay pamamahala ng gobyerno na pumoprotekta doon sa ating kapaligiran (The environment is the victim here. That is the reason I oppose reclamation projects. What we need is a government that protects the environment.)

Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno has a different take, noting that reclamation could be a new source of income for the Philippines.

"Katulad ng mga tanong kanina, hirap ang bansa, maraming utang, naghahanap tayo ng investor there is a future o puwedeng mangyari sa atin in the likes of Hong Kong nationals, in the likes of Taiwanese nationals who may come to retire or may invest here,” he said.

"Kaya kailangan natin kung talagang naghahanap tayo ng pambayad ng utang, kita at trabaho, kailangan natin itong ipush (That is why if we are really looking for a source of income to pay our debts or generate jobs, we need to push this through) because this is a new source of income without giving burden to the taxpayers," he added.

He, however, said regulations in protecting the environment must be obeyed.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, for his part, said any project should be science-based and data driven before it is implemented.

“Isa sa mga pinaka-basic guidelines ko na sinusunod sa paggawa ng policy decision o maski anong desisyon. Dapat science-based at data driven. Ito ang pinaka-importante kasi hindi lahat ito pwedeng i-apply sa buong kapuluan kasi may mga areas na baka kailangan talaga nilang mag-reclaim pero again, dapat nakabase ito sa siyensa at sa mga datos. Kailangan ba talaga? At ito ba ay makakasama sa environment? Sa ibang lugar naman talagang di pupwede so napaka-basic ng aking panuntunan, science-based and data driven,” he said.

(One of the basic guidelines that I follow when crafting policies or making a decision is it should be science-based and data-driven. This is very important because we cannot apply a policy across the whole country as some areas might really need reclamation activities but again based on science and data. Is this really needed? Does this adversely affect the environment? So those are the basic guidelines of my policy. It should be science-based and data-driven.)

Senator Manny Pacquiao said he is not against reclamation projects but there should be an assessment first and the local government units must be consulted if they want it or not.

“Hindi po ako tutol d’yan sa reclamation, per case lang po. Kailangan magkaroon ng assessment. Tanungin natin yung LGUs kung gusto nila o hindi. Kailangan hindi masira naman ang ating kalikasan dahil ang kalikasan ay bahagi po ng ating buhay. Magkaroon po tayo ng consultation sa ating lokal, sila po ang nakakaalam sa kanilang lugar. Meron naman po tayong agency to assist para suriing mabuti kung ang lugar ay dapat bang i-reclaim o hindi,” he said.

(I am not against reclamation projects but it should be case to case basis. There should be an assessment. Let us ask the LGUs if they want to project or not. We should also make sure that the environment will not be damaged. There should be a consultation with the local people because it is they who know their area. We have an agency that can assist in checking if an area is good for reclamation or not.)

Vice President Leni Robredo, for her part, said economic cost should never come at the expense of environmental or social cost.

“Mahalaga na may mekanismo na iyong experts, people's council, may platform, para iyong boses nila napapakinggan. Hindi iyong very shallow consultation. Day one pa lang na isinusulong ito, dapat kasama sila sa usapan, kasama ang mga experts sa environment

(There should be mechanisms where experts, people's councils will be heard. We will not resort to shallow consultations. From Day 1, these people should be part of the process, including environment experts.)

Former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. was not able to join the forum due to conflict in schedule.—Llanesca Panti, Anna Felicia Bajo, Hana Bordey, Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA News