THE city government of Parañaque has passed an ordinance mandating all reclamation projects in the city to maintain adequate water channels for better coastal preservation and protection.
Parañaque City Ordinance no. 182 s. 2024 requires the setting aside of a water channel of not less than 200 meters from the main land or foreshore of any land reclamation project along the coastal area within the territorial jurisdiction of the city.
The City Council approved the ordinance under the guidance of Parañaque City Mayor Eric Olivarez.
The passage of the ordinance has received support and praise from the local business community, especially among those whose representatives were present during the City Council hearing.
Among those present during the meeting were representatives from the D.M. Wenceslao Group, the company responsible for the Aseana City, who hailed the City Council for recognizing the importance of establishing clear boundaries and guidelines in reclamation projects to protect the city’s affected shoreline and the communities.
Company officials from SM Smart City likewise commended Olivarez and Vice Mayor Joan Villafuerte for proactively involving key stakeholders from the business community in the decision-making process.
The City Council said it drafted the ordinance amid concerns regarding the negative effects of reclamation projects that do not take coastal preservation into account.
“We have seen the negative effects of uncontrolled reclamation in other areas,” noted Councilor Marvin Santos. “Apart from discouraging consumer activity in waterfront establishments, there are environmental and structural consequences that need to be carefully weighed and considered,” he also said.
Olivarez had previously supported a city delegation composed of council members and department heads in an official visit to the Netherlands to learn about global best practices in environmental management, coastal preservation, and sustainable development. Given the lessons and recommendations from their Dutch counterparts, the city officials determined that a 200-meter water channel from the foreshore of planned reclamation developments is a necessity.
