PROPOSED 300 HAS. PASAY CITY RECLAMATION PROJECT YET TO SEEK APPROVAL FROM THE PHILIPPINE RECLAMATION AUTHORITY

This is to inform the public that the much publicized 300 hectare reclamation project in Manila Bay within the jurisdiction of Pasay City has not been submitted to the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) for approval. Pursuant to law and regulations, no reclamation activity can legally commence without said approval.

It has been reported in media that, sometime in September of this year, Pasay City accepted SM Group’s unsolicited proposal to reclaim 300 hectares of Manila Bay within their jurisdiction and has subjected the same to a “Swiss Challenge” whereby other interested parties may submit competing proposals. All these developments came as a surprise to PRA considering that as early as August of this year, the PRA submitted a letter to Pasay City informing them of a proposed Government Center Project which pertains to the same area in their jurisdiction.

All reclamation project proposals undergo a stringent 5-stage approval process by the PRA. These include securing an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), submission of flooding and drainage studies, public consultations by the proponents, detailed engineering designs, geo-hazard assessment as well as financial feasibility studies. No reclamation works can commence without a Notice to Proceed (NTP) being issued by the PRA. The 300 hectare Pasay City reclamation project has not even reached the first stage as no letter of intent nor request for approval has been received by PRA to date. Under current approval protocols being adhered to, reclamation projects would need to be endorsed by PRA to the NEDA Board for approval.

PHILIPPINE RECLAMATION AUTHORITY MANAGEMENT AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

*As published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer and The Philippine Star on 01 November 2013