(From the left: Angela Colmenares of Earth Island Institute Philippines, Roy Velez of Bayan NCR, Gleissee Macabale of Save Freedom Island Movement, & Gina Squillantini Mapua of Wild Bird Club of the Philippines— at Freedom Island, Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat & Eco-tourism Area.)
Various environmentalist groups held tree-planting and coastal clean-up at Freedom Island, Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Eco-Tourism Area this Sunday, October 23, 2011. Led by Earth Island Institute Philippines (EII-Phils), Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP) and Save Freedom Island Movement (SFIM); a signature campaign to stop the reclamation project in the said area was also launched.
The group claimed that they are cleaning the coast and planting trees in Freedom Island because they want this place conserved and protected. They clarified that this is not only a campaign for a healthy environment but also a way of protest against the impending reclamation.
Freedom Island is the last remaining mangrove frontier in Metro Manila that stands as an avian sanctuary for more than 80 species of local and migratory birds. Its diverse ecosystem of mangrove trees and salt marshes also caters different marine creatures that are important to the livelihood of local fisher folks. Birds, marine resources and livelihoods are not the only things at stake, but also the residents of the nearby cities because the lagoon serves as an outlet of their major waterways. Reclaiming the lagoon might cause floods and other environmental disasters.
Philippine Reclamation Authority argues that the rest of the island will remain intact for eco-tourism purposes and states that there is an environmental compliance certificate for the project. However, Wild Bird Club of the Philippines believes that the proposed extension of Macapagal Boulevard and infrastructures would pen in the critical habitat wherein saltwater could not circulate and eventually extinguish the mangrove trees.
Earth Island Institute-Philippines campaign officer, Angela Colmenares, said that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) passed by the PRA should be challenged for obvious adverse environmental impacts. She explained that land reclamations are one of the most disastrous projects because it will not only disturb the coastal balance and current pattern of waves, it would also cause destruction of mangroves and coral reefs and would, therefore, destroy the habitat of marine life and other life forms that depend on it. Reclamation is restricted in some parts of the world due to the severe damage it may cause.
“There was a time that Manila Bay used to have great potentials to the ecological and socio-economical lives of the people. However, the bay has suffered from serious water quality deterioration due to the dumping of sewage, garbage, industrial pollutants and land reclamation. The problem exacerbates with the decline of the mangrove population from 54,000 hectares during the latter part of the 19th century to only about 794 hectares at present primarily due to land conversion, reclamation projects and toxic contamination. The last-remaining mangrove forest in Freedom Island also means the last of our hope,” Colmenares elucidated.
The P 14 billion project forms part of the controversial Manila-Cavite Coastal Road and Reclamation Project (MCCRRP). Glacy Macabale of Save Freedom Island Movement supposed that it is a resurrected PEA-Amari deal that the Supreme Court has already voided with finality in November 11, 2003 because of issues of patrimony, social injustice, environmental crimes and unconstitutionality.
“The Philippine Estates Authority (PEA) was simply renamed as the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA); and the Amari Estates Co Ltd. was replaced by Italian-Thai Development Public Co. LTD (ITD-PCL) which are both owned and/or controlled by the wealthy and powerful Charanachitta family of Thailand. It is, therefore, a clear disrespect to the Philippine laws and the Supreme Court.,” she further expounded.
Macabale contemplated that Freedom Island’s name is a complete paradox of its story and it should be truly freed from threats of relentless disposal of garbage, toxic pollution from industries, insufficient social services of the government, corporate greed, and the disastrous reclamation project.
The group is optimistic that said campaign will be supported by people, organizations and some enlightened government officials. In just three days since they started the signature campaign, they already gathered more than 4,500 signatures and is continuing to gain more.