Residents, groups block Laguna Lake project for ‘illegal’ public scoping
- Media Communications
- Mar 20
- 3 min read
Quezon City, Philippines — Taytay residents, joined by the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), Alliance of Unified People's Organization in Lupang Arenda (APOLA), Sanlakas, Rizal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management (FARMC), successfully intervened and stopped the public scoping held for the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network (LLRN) Project, today.
Residents and community members said that they were not informed of the public scoping, and no Information and Education Campaign (IEC) was conducted. According to DENR Administrative Order No. 015-17, or the Guidelines on Public Participation under the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System, the IEC must be accomplished prior to public scoping.
Public scoping is a public participation mechanism in which a project proponent defines the range of actions, alternatives, and impacts that need to be examined and, conversely, provides the public with an opportunity to express their concerns. This process triggers the environmental impact assessment process for any project, including the proposed LLRN project.
In January 2024, fishermen led by Rizal-FARMC filed a complaint with the Laguna Lake Development Authority to suspend reclamation activities in Laguna De Bay.
“Basic sectors, such as fisherfolk, are on the losing end of ‘developmental’ projects that don’t consider their welfare, lives, and livelihood, let alone opinion and participation. The successful intervention that happened earlier reminds proponents and DENR to follow the provisions inscribed under the Philippine Environmental Impact System Statement (PEISS). There are many cases where DENR public hearing officers gloss over the jurisdictional requirements and proceed with the public scoping, essentially violating the process and procedures. DENR has to be legally liable for circumventing the procedures” PMCJ National Coordinator Ian Rivera said.
APOLA, Rizal-FARMC, and other local organizations have been opposing reclamation activities in their area, stressing that these projects don’t involve the residents that will be affected.
“The attempt to conduct a public scoping in Lupang Arenda that the residents have no idea about is a violation of our rights according to the Local Government Code of 1991. We have the right to participate at all social, political, and economic decision-making levels,” APOLA President Vicente “Enteng” Barlos argued.
In 2024, Laguna faced extreme flooding despite not being directly hit by six consecutive typhoons. With hours of continuous rainfall, Laguna was among the provinces that were submerged in the flood. The LLRN will only worsen this by hindering the flow of water down to Laguna Lake, trapping water in the cities and municipalities according to PMCJ Public Policy and Campaign Officer Christine Hernandez.
If the LLRN Project pushes through we are looking at severe flooding, and water contamination, apart from disrupting the lake's ecosystem. There is a projected 2.06 percent increase in flooding within 25 years—an alarming rate for a country prone to tropical storms and typhoons. Development should never be at the expense of people's lives and safety. The LLRN Project demonstrates how yet again the Government fails to prioritize the welfare of the environment and people,” Hernandez stressed, citing environmental assessment of the project.
Taytay Municipal Councilor and Committee Head of Environment Tobit Cruz was also present in the halted public scoping. “Don’t get me wrong. I am not against the project—because how can I be against a thing I am not yet informed about,” Cruz wrote in his Facebook post. [Don’t get me wrong. Hindi ako kumokontra sa proyekto— kasi, paano ako kokontra sa isang bagay na wala pa akong alam.] Cruz said that observing the right processes is very important.
“The people of Lupang Arenda and Rizal rightfully asserted their right to public participation which led to the cancellation of the public scoping due to lack of requirements. This is, however, just the start as the Government is set to proceed with the project, apparently, at all cost. The LLRN Project is just a portion of a large infrastructure project that the Laguna Lake Development Authority refuses to disclose. We will not wait for the next public scoping. We demand full transparency on the proposed infrastructure projects in Laguna Lake. We hold the Government accountable for keeping the people in the dark,” Rivera ended. ###
FOR INQUIRIES:
Sheila Abarra
Senior Media and Communications Officer
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice
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