Digging a Grave with Concrete: The Human Cost of Reclaiming Manila Bay
By: C-Help Team
There’s a burning rage growing inside every person’s chest every time it rains hard in Manila. It is undeniable how people in Metro Manila grapple through floodwaters every time there’s a weather disturbance. In a span of minutes of torrential rains, Manila alleys become easily inundated. People are tired of romanticizing resilience as they endure disasters. But who are the real culprits for aggravating Manila’s flood crisis?
The 2024 cumulative impact assessment revealed that while Manila Bay remains ecologically vibrant with 51 coral genera and 167 fish species, 21 proposed and ongoing reclamation projects pose serious threats to its marine ecosystems, fisheries, and urban resilience.
The reclamation projects, covering 6,166 hectares (equivalent to nearly four new Central Business Districts), disrupt natural water circulation, leading to stagnation and the accumulation of pollutants.
Reclamation also reduces fishing grounds, forcing fishers to travel farther and spend more, while the destruction of mangroves weakens coastal defenses and heightens vulnerability to typhoons.
Moreover, by obstructing natural drainage pathways, reclamation exacerbates flooding in low-lying areas of Metro Manila, creating bottlenecks that delay floodwater discharge during heavy rains and typhoons.
These impacts threaten lives, infrastructure, community resilience, and Filipino’s rights under Sections 15 (right to health) and 16 (right to a balanced and healthful ecology) of Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
Flooded Futures: Fighting for People's Rights Amid Manila Bay Reclamation
In December 2024, a landmark environmental case was filed by Z. Soriano & Associates Law Office (Community Legal Help and Public Interest Centre, Inc.), representing Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA), Kalikasan PNE, environmental advocates, and concerned citizens against Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), asking the Supreme Court to compel the government to stop reclamation and seabed quarrying in Manila Bay.
The petitioners sought a Writ of Kalikasan and Continuing Mandamus with Damages, aiming to nullify permits and halt all activities until a cumulative impact assessment and a comprehensive reclamation development plan are completed.
The group cited violations of Executive Order No. 74, which requires such assessments before issuing Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs).
The PRA and the DENR allegedly bypassed these requirements, approving projects and issuing ECCs without the mandated safeguards.
The environmental and livelihood impacts have been severe, with fisherfolk reporting diminished fish stocks, muddied waters, and increased costs due to longer fishing trips.
Scientific testimony underscored the irreversible damage caused by seabed quarrying. In a significant move in April 2025, the Supreme Court ordered the inclusion of 20 permit holders as respondents in the case.
The petitioners welcomed the SC's order, as it brought the specific local government units and companies involved directly into the legal proceedings, forcing them to address the environmental concerns raised in the petition.
The case, docketed as G.R. No. 277351 (PAMALAKAYA, et al. v. PRA, et al.), is ongoing, with the Supreme Court continuing to receive comments from all parties involved.
Digging a Grave for the Future: Manila Bay Reclamation and the Rising Tide of Injustice
As the petitioners describe, Manila Bay is drowning not just in water, but in neglect. Reclamation projects and unchecked development are choking its natural defenses, worsening floods across Metro Manila and threatening coastal communities.
We urgently call on government leaders, civil society, educators, and youth to halt reclamation, enforce environmental laws including the Supreme Court’s mandamus to rehabilitate Manila Bay, and invest in nature-based solutions such as mangrove restoration and sustainable drainage systems.
Every inch of reclaimed land brings Filipinos closer to disaster. It’s time to choose resilience over profit, protection over destruction. Join the movement, speak out, and act now: Manila Bay needs you.