Screengrab from ASEAN 2026

Access to information or the right to know about environmental conditions and potential risks, as well as public participation or the right to be involved in environmental decision-making processes, are also components of the ASEAN Declaration. These rights are violated when the cumulative impacts assessment of various reclamation projects in Manila Bay is kept confidential by the government.

Reflecting on the process, the assessment was commissioned by the president in response to significant public protest and widespread concern from various sectors about the adverse impacts these reclamation projects bring. These demonstrations were sparked by the growing number of reclamation projects in Manila Bay, which based on studies and observations, have already resulted in severe flooding, increased pollution, loss of livelihoods for local communities, and other serious environmental and social consequences.

The combined size of these reclamation projects including those in the pipeline would be around 9,000 hectares, which is almost three (3) times larger than the total land area of Macao and more than twice the size of the entire City of Manila. These projects are in, or close to, municipal fishing grounds, mangrove areas, and reserved wetlands.

Marine scientist Dr. Wilfredo Licuanan of De La Salle University has highlighted that reclamation damages water quality and consequently, anything in those waters. Last year, previous DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, citing University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute studies, admitted that the ongoing reclamation projects will really affect Manila Bay’s physical environment, the flow and circulation of water. She further added that these projects are not even integrated in the LGUs’ flood management plan..

Mandated by Executive Order No. 74, s. 2019, the purpose of the assessment was to address the above-mentioned pressing issues by providing a thorough evaluation of the cumulative effects of all ongoing and proposed reclamation activities, rather than considering each project in isolation. This comprehensive review is intended to serve as a prerequisite before any reclamation permits are granted.

According to the environment department, the study modelled the impacts of reclamation through three progressive scenarios: 1) the impacts of the two ongoing projects; 2) the combined impact of ongoing plus approved projects (14 total); and 3) the "Full Build-Out" scenario, analyzing the massive impact of all 21 ongoing, approved, and proposed projects. The assessment was completed and announced in April last year, with findings presented to business groups and local governments at a forum. However, public access has been withheld, as authorities cite the need for a phase two study to confirm the initial results.

Making the Manila Bay cumulative impact assessment public is crucial because it empowers affected groups—particularly local fisherfolk and residents of coastal areas—with the knowledge they need to participate meaningfully in decisions that shape their livelihoods and environment. It fosters transparency, invites stakeholder scrutiny, and ensures that the cumulative consequences of reclamation are fully considered before any project proceeds.

By making this document publicly accessible, the government would set a powerful precedent for the ASEAN region, breathing life and genuine significance into the Declaration.

Zelda Soriano and Rochelle Anne Luna are lawyers of Community Legal Help and Public Interest Centre, a non-profit organization that acts for the protection of human rights and the environment. Email: info@communitylegalhelp.org