A total of 5 land-reclamation projects in Manila Bay within the territorial waters of the Province of Cavite are in the pipeline.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has set the virtual public hearings via Zoom Meeting for the land-reclamation projects as part of the permitting process for the offshore construction that would require land reclamation, also called dump-and-fill.
Documents revealed that based on the project description submitted by the proponent, the project’s Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) application being applied for involves only the horizontal phase.
The plan is to raise the elevation of the seabed for the sole purpose of creating new land intended for various functional purposes. The proposed source is of dumping or filling materials is the San Nicolas Shoal, also in Cavite Province.
Like any other land-reclamation projects, the artificial islands project in Cavite will not only expand the territory of cities along the coast of Cavite but would also provide opportunities for commercial and residential development and in the process generate jobs and livelihood, and other income-generating activities that will boost Cavite’s economic status.
The online public hearing via Zoom for four of the artificial island projects were scheduled in line with the issuance of EMB Memorandum Circular 2020-30 dated July 28, 2020, which provides for an Interim Guidelines on Public Participation in the implementation of PD1586 during the state of the National Public Health Emergency.
The memorandum dated July 26, 2021, which scheduled the public hearings, was signed by Director William Cunado, the DENR’s Environmental Management in the Implementation Bureau (EMB) Director.
All four artificial island projects are to be built 300 to 600 meters offshore from Cavite City, Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario in Cavite Province. Cavite is located southeast of Manila Bay, currently the subject of massive rehabilitation by the Duterte administration dubbed “Battle for Manila Bay.”
Based on the preliminary plan, the four islands will be built into a modern aerotropolis in the future.
The four artificial island projects cover a total area of 1,043.28 through land backfill or dump and fill.
The proponent of the artificial island projects is the Provincial Government of Cavite.
To recall, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed Resolution 1077, Series of 2018 on November 19, 2018, which granted the Provincial Governor the authority to award to Century Peak Corp. (CPC) and its consortium, the Cavite Reclamation Project Development covering 1,332 hectares (5 islands) within the territorial jurisdiction of the province.
The same resolution also grants the Provincial Governor the authority to sign the Joint Venture Agreement for this purpose, pursuant to Provincial Ordinance 002-2-2012, otherwise known as “Provincial Government of Cavite’s PPP Code.” At the same time, the resolution granted the Provincial Governor the authority to apply for the necessary permits and to enter into agreement with concerned government agencies in connection with the project.
The provincial resolution is also backed by resolutions from the host city and municipality stating no objection to the project. The Sangguniang Bayan of Cavite City issued Resolution 2018-95 signed on December 17, 2018, which interposed no objection/opposition to the Cavite Reclamation Project and no objection/opposition to the authority of the Provincial Government to apply for the said project. However, the Resolution from the Sangguniang Bayan of Kawit is still on process. Cavite City resolution is attached as Annex 1-B.
The Cavite Province Land Reclamation and Development Project: Island A involves the land-reclamation covering a total area of 247.28 hectares along Bacoor Bay and the coastal waters of Cavite City and Kawit.
The public hearing scheduled at 8 a.m. on August 11, 2021 is being conducted in connection with the review of the said project by the DENR-EMB. Registration for the said public hearing is set at 7 a.m. on the same day.
The Zoom details are the following:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89714437037?pwd=M FJ2Rkl6TWF5NGhRSW9LTXF5TlJ5dz09
Meeting ID: 897 1443 7037
Passcode: PHCRP2021
The public hearing for the Cavite Province Land Reclamation and Development Project: Island C which covers a total of 205 hectares of land-reclamation activities along the Coastal Waters of Noveleta is scheduled at 1 p.m. on August 11, 2021. Registration starts at 12:30 p.m.
Zoom details:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87674400133?pwd= WjJYbjNVazNQODN2OGxaNzNneE92QT09
Meeting ID: 876 7440 0133
Passcode: PHCRP2021
On August 12, the Cavite Province Land Reclamation and Development Project: Island D involving 267 hectares in Noveleta and Rosario is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. The registration starts at 7:30 a.m. on the same day.
Zoom details:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88929763117?pwd=d m1BdFdOT2V1VXNtUkFMUnZsUk4ydz09 Meeting ID: 889 2976 3117 Passcode: PHCRP2021
Also on August 12, at 1 p.m. with registration starting at 12:30 a.m., the public hearing for the Cavite Province Land Reclamation and Development Project: Island E which covers 324 hectares along the coastal waters of Rosario, Cavite will be held.
Zoom details:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89851061107?pwd=R 291dUlDN3BVVVVJNGNHb2daM2F4dz09
Meeting ID: 898 5106 1107
Passcode: PHCRP2021