MANILA, Philippines – Fisherfolk group Pamalakaya and environmental group Kalikasan People’s Network filed before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, December 11, a petition for a writ of kalikasan and continuing mandamus against Manila Bay seabed quarry projects and reclamations.

The petitioners want the High Court to decide if the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) “violated their mandate for failure to assess the risks and impacts of seabed quarrying and reclamation in Manila Bay.”

The DENR and the PRA are respondents in the petition.

They said that between 2019 and 2023, the DENR issued at least 10 seabed quarry permits, and the PRA approved 13 applications for reclamation in Manila Bay. Three of these seabed quarry projects, petitioners said, will supply materials for the reclamation projects in Manila Bay.

The groups are also asking the SC to determine if the respondents violated environmental laws and if injured fisherfolk are entitled to damages.

The writ of kalikasan is a legal remedy that protects Filipinos’ constitutional right to a balanced and healthful ecology.

The SC can direct the DENR and PRA to perform their mandates if the court decides to issue a continuing mandamus.

Risks to fisherfolk

According to the affidavits of four fishers from Navotas, Bacoor, and Naic, they used to earn P1,000 a day from catching shellfish and fishing. During 2020 to 2023, they said that were already earning less than P500.

The fishers noted that harvest grounds near reclamation sites deepened by six to 10 meters and the waters turned murkier.

“Bagama’t kasalukuyang suspendido ang ilan sa mga nasabing proyekto, hindi kami mapapanatag hangga’t hindi tuluyang napapatigil ang mga ito lalo pa’t malinaw na labag sa batas at nagdulot ng malawakang pagkasira sa kapaligiran at kabuhayan ng mga mangigisda,” said Pamalakaya vice-chairperson Ronnek Arambulo in a statement on Wednesday.

(Even though some projects are suspended, we will not be satisfied until these are not completely halted. Especially since it’s clear that they violated the law, caused massive destruction to the environment and the livelihood of fisherfolk.)

The petitioners cited experts in the case, including marine scientist Fernando Siringan, who said seabed quarrying may pose health risks and cause paralytic shellfish poisoning.

They also raised concerns on the migration patterns of birds affected by the development, as well as the health of mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrasses.

In 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suspended reclamation projects in Manila Bay. But others resumed reclamation a few months after.

The DENR already has interim results of its cumulative impact assessment of the reclamation in Manila Bay, but has yet to publicize the full report.

– Rappler.com