Philippine bishops urge president to halt planned real estate development
December 16, 2013
Citing environmental concerns, 21 Philippine bishops, including Manila Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, urged President Benigno Aquino III to halt real estate development projects that involve land reclamation from Manila Bay.
“Former reclamation projects in these areas have resulted in disastrous flooding,” the bishops stated. “Will the projected economic gains sufficiently and justifiably compensate the damage in life, ecosystems and property in the future?”
The bishops added that it would be “wiser to boost tourism and cultural preservation by restoring old historical sites and buildings rather than build on reclaimed land to the detriment of the livelihood of the people and the environment,” according to a Philippine Daily Inquirer report.
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