San Miguel Corp. (SMC) tapped a foreign expert to lead the crafting of a comprehensive plan that will protect local and migratory bird populations that regularly visit Manila Bay, including the coastal areas of Bulakan, Bulacan where the New Manila International Airport project will be constructed.
SMC said it hired avian researcher Dr. Frank Rheindt to study the bird populations in the areas.
SMC said Rheindt, an associate professor and dean’s chair at the Department of Biological Sciences of the National University of Singapore, formulated a framework of recommendations to ensure the airport project can mitigate the negative impacts on local and migratory bird species as well as support the declining global populations of shorebirds and ensure the safety of aircraft from potential bird strikes
Rheindt has recommended the development of new and protected coastal areas that resemble mudflats where migratory shorebirds can safely feed when they pass through the country for several weeks throughout the year.
Rheindt also identified suitable areas within a 10-kilometer radius of the airport in Malolos, Paombong and Hagonoy, Bulacan for the offset of mudlands.
“As with any project of this scale, we have to think of all the issues that impact our host communities, the environment, and the project itself. Birds are always a safety concern for airports around the world but our goal here is to protect them and there are several ways we can do that, while also ensuring safety at the airport,” said Ramon Ang, SMC president, in a statement.
Ang added Rheindt’s report noted areas in and around the project site host dozens of bird species but few of them are critical from a conservation standpoint.
SMC also said the report identified declining shorebird populations as a global phenomenon which is mostly linked to recent vast development projects in the Yellow Sea of China and Korea.
Ang said even before Rheindt’s research, a number of measures were being considered by the airport development team.
“There needs to be a right balance between developing the airport site and protecting and enhancing the environment. We want to avoid the mistake of many developments, that’s why we have put together the best team of local and foreign experts in various fields, from land development, environment management, airport design and construction and urban master-planning to help build this airport and aerocity development,” Ang said.
