Fisherfolk led by the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) protested in front of the office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on January 20 to condemn the agency for its long overdue results of assessing the reclamation projects’ overall impact in Manila Bay. They insisted that the agency immediately release the full report so that it can be used as basis for the immediate suspension of reclamation and seabed quarrying projects in Manila Bay.

“Why is the DENR study taking so long when many experts and fisherfolk have long proven the reclamation’s harmful effects on the environment and livelihood?” Pamalakaya secretary general Salvador France said on the protest.

In August 2023 the DENR commissioned the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) to conduct a comprehensive study in Manila Bay. According to Pamalakaya, this has started a long time ago but the DENR has still not released the study results.

Meanwhile, Pamalakaya expressed its full trust in UP MSI experts that the results they will come up with and release will support the fisherfolk’s call to stop reclamation and dredging.

“We have high confidence in UP MSI that they will not disappoint fisherfolk and the environment. Above all, they will not allow themselves to be an instrument for the perpetuation of big businesses’ plundering projects, France added.

Fisherfolk timed their DENR action on the 6th anniversary of the government’s “rehabilitation program” in Manila Bay launched in 2019. Ever since “rehabilitation” was launched, Pamalakaya and fisherfolk have called it an utter failure.

“The government’s rehabilitation program in Manila Bay has been going on for six years but yielded no significant results. Fisherfolk’s income is falling due to the depletion of fish and their habitat. There is no other reason for this but the destructive projects in Manila Bay that the government did not really stop,” France said.

The fisherfolk will continue to demand for real rehabilitation of Manila Bay based on the its revitalization as a fishery and not for large businesses. Apart from this, Pamalakaya calls for the accountability of companies that have already done reclamation and detruction to Manila Bay.

Pamalakaya is one of those who filed a petition for the Writ of Kalikasan and Continuing Mandamus against all reclamation and seabed quarrying in Manila Bay.