By Rea Cu @ReaCuBM
The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) anticipates pursuing more than 600 projects over the coming years, including an environmentally conscious project, called Legacy Island on Water (LIoW), eyed for completion by 2022.
The LIoW is seen completed by 2022 or earlier. The PRA defines the island as an area that is livable, resilient, safe, sustainable, green, generative, pro-people, future-proof, smart community and innovative that is built with nature.
According to PRA Chairman Alberto C. Agra, the more than 600 projects are already in various stages of completion.
He said at the sidelines of the PRA 40th Anniversary on Friday at the Le Pavillion in Pasay City, some of the projects are illegal reclamation operations “that we want to legalize or seek reimbursement from, and 20 that are not yet in the pipeline but already have current discussions on”.
Agra further pointed out he wants the PRA to fast-track the projects since most are close to the end of a nine-stage PRA process prior to implementation. Their acceleration should help strengthen the government’s Public-Private Partnership Program.
Based on a PRA report, there are 95 reclamation and development projects in the pipeline in various stages of implementation. The agency looks to more than 20 other possible reclamation projects to further develop and 487 unauthorized projects the PRA is securing reimbursements from.
Some of the projects include other options for the Sangley Airport Development project, alternative areas for the Bataan Shipyard and Engineering Company (Baseco) reclamation, the notice to proceed for the Manila Gold Coast project and the Navotas Coastal Bay Reclamation and Development project and presentation of options for a solid waste-management facility or green island in collaboration with the Manila Metropolitan Development Authority, among others.
“Hopefully, if we are able to award or issue the notice to proceed this year. It takes two years to actually reclaim [land] so 2022 is actually doable. By 2019 we might already have [reclaimed] land. Maybe not the whole land [but] maybe a portion,” Agra added.
In earlier reports, the PRA vowed to accomplish at least 12 reclamation project proposals in the short term to help boost investment in the country.
Agra said the agency will hasten the processing of reclamation applications from the local government units that have all the necessary requirements.
“The PRA does not reclaim for reclamation’s sake. Its commitment is to create LIoW so that Filipinos will enjoy a better quality of life,” he said.