Environmental groups from all over Negros Island came out in full force online to protest the upcoming Aerotroplis Project in Bulacan, Manila Bay that will see up to 700 families from Taliptip and livelihood of fisherfolk of the community displaced as well as butcher down mangrooves in the area that serve as natural coastal protection.

The P735.6-billion New Manila International Airport (NMIA), secured through an unsolicited proposal by the Ramon Ang-led conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC), hopes to ease air and land traffic congestion in Pasay City, where the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) is situated.

Among the signatories were Mangrove Matters PH, SUSG Research Committee, Lihok Adbokasiya, Linghod, Youth For Climate Hope, Association of Young Environmental Journalists, LCC Enviornmentalist Community Club, PUP Society of Biology Students, Tanjay Anti-Black Sand Mining Movement, Save Mount Talinis Movement, Zero Waste Youth Negros Oriental and various student organizations from the Siliman University such as SUSG Students’ and Welfare Committee, SUSG Secretariat Commitee, SUSG Special Projects Committee, SUSG Environment Committee, and the SUSG Advocacy Committee.

A Joint Statement on The Establishment Of The Aerotropolis Project in Bulacan, Manila Bay

A bill establishing an economic zone which is the Aerotropolis Project in Bulakan, Bulacan was recently approved by a panel in the House of Representatives during its second reading. The San Miguel Corporation (SMC) claims that this project would boost the economy of Bulacan but this project alone would cause environmental degradation and loss of livelihood to the fisherfolk communities living in Bulacan.

On April 25, 2018, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) approved plans for an aerotropolis in Bulacan Province, Manila Bay. The plan spans 2,500 hectares in constructing the project. The plan will greatly affect the residents and at least 700 families will face displacement. In the beginning of May 2018, a mangrove cutting spree was reportedly done by SMC, which may have been done without required environmental clearance which has been thought to be connected to the planned Bulacan Aerotropolis.

SMC also mentioned that they will provide mangrove crabs for culture and conduct mangrove planting programs and what they are doing is a corporate greenwashing. They are greenwashing the Aerotropolis Project. Greenwashing is an act being done by corporations to hide the negative environmental impacts and market their unsustainable conservation plans. Cutting decade-old mangroves and planting saplings of mangroves is unsustainable. The strong wave action can not be tolerated by young mangrove saplings and this would be a threat to their survival. This will be hard for the mangrove crabs to depend on the planted mangroves as their habitat since these young mangroves are vulnerable to harsh conditions.

The fisherfolk communities in Sitio Taliptip depend highly on the existing mangroves. The mangroves serve as a habitat for juvenile fishes and marine invertebrates where these fisherfolks obtain their catch. When these mangroves are cut down, the stored carbon in the soil would be released into the atmosphere and therefore contributing to climate change.
The fisherfolk communities are at risk because of this project. Lackluster compensation has been given to affected residents with no long term plans on their relocation. The only compensation given to them was 250,000 pesos upfront with no plans of relocation. Majority of the fisherfolk have already taken the money out of desperation as they have limited means of livelihood left after the damage done in the area. Little to no communication has been given to the fisherfolk and much of the unethical parts of the project has been kept under wraps or has been dodging the attention of the public from feats such as greenwashing.

We, concerned organizations of this country, do not condone nor support this establishment of this establishment. This project would bring environmental destruction and socio economic struggles for the members of the coastal communities in Bulakan. The government should highly prioritize its people knowing that many are dying because we are currently in a state of a global health crisis. We want a competent government that thinks of its people and the environment. The government should listen to the call of local scientists and the communities affected in discontinuing this project. There will soon be a final reading on this matter and we want this project to be junked.

#SaveTaliptip #NoToAerotropolis #RehabilitationNotReclamation #SaveOurSeas #DefendTheBay

References:

Cabico, G. (2020). Pandemic forces Taliptip fishers to demolish homes for ‘crumbs for compensation’. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/…/pandemic-forces-taliptip-fishers…

Kalikasan PNE. (2018). Save Taliptip. Retrieved September 2, 2020 from https://www.bulatlat.com/2018/05/20/save-taliptip/…

Kodao Productions. (2018). A fishing village and mangrove habitat in the Philippines faces threats of reclamation. Retrieved September 2, 2020 from https://globalvoices.org/…/a-fishing-village-and-mangrove-…/

Luna, F. (2019). Listen to displacement fears over airport project, Bulakan mayor urged. Retrieved September 2, 2020 from https://www.philstar.com/…/listen-displacement-fears-over-a…

Remitio, R. (2020). House panel approves bill creating economic zone around SMC’s Bulacan airport. Retrieved September 2, 2020 from https://cnnphilippines.com/…/house-bill-economic-zone-SMC-b…

Salamat, M. (2019). ‘Direct hit’ Bulacan fisherfolk most affected, least consulted on SMC reclamation. Retrieved from: https://www.bulatlat.com/…/direct-hit-bulacan-fisherfolk-m…/