Bulacan flood maps negate SMC’s Aerotropolis project – fishers group

Bulacan flood maps negate SMC’s Aerotropolis project – fishers group

Manila, Philippines – The fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) raised the alarm against the 2,500-hectare Aerotropolis project in Bulakan town in Bulacan province by the San Miguel Corporation, will trigger destructive flooding in adjacent towns and cities that will affect more than half a million people. PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson and former representative of Anakpawis Party-list Fernando “Ka Pando” Hicap based his group’s claim on the very flood maps published by the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

“Mismong sa Hazard and Vulnerability Map ng probinsya, deklarado ang mga bayan na malapit sa Manila Bay na flood prone area, at sa Coastal Flooding Map na bunga ng storm surge at high tide, sapul na sapul ang Obando, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue at Bulakan. Sa datos pa lang na iyan, kapag nabigyan ng Environmental Compliance ang 2,500 na ektaryang Aerotropolis, lalabas na hindi kinonsidera ang epekto nito sa mga mamamayan ng mga katabing bayan,” he said in a press statement.

Moreover, Bulacan provincial hazard map showed that storm surges of 1 to 4 meters could affect the coastal towns of the province. He added that Meycauyan, Marilao, Bocaue and Sta. Maria are vulnerable to river flooding from upstream sources, as one of the map indicates.

Ang Aerotropolis ay mistulang aaktong dam kontra sa agos ng tubig sa mga ilog, at ang tatamaan nito ay mga komunidad sa maraming bayan, kaya hindi lang ito isyu ng mga taga-Barangay Taliptip sa Bulakan, isyu ito ng buong probinsya,” he stressed.

Another map indicated that Bulakan, Bocaue and Marilao towns are prone to flooding due to ponding or waters similar in a dam. Also Bocaue, Marilao and some parts of Meycauayan are prone to flashfloods that will trigger landslides.

Hicap urged Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando to oppose the Aerotropolis project and uphold the welfare of his constituents.

“Sana ay ipagtanggol ni Gob. Fernando ang interes ng mga mamamayan ng Bulacan. Hindi biro ang mga flash flood, malaki ang epekto nito sa mga nasasakupan niya,” Hicap said.

In August 2018, due to tropical storms and “habagat” rains, eight towns of Bulacan were flooded that affected more than 120,000 families or 620,000 population. This triggered the provincial government to declare a state of calamity. In July 2019, 52 villages of Marilao, Malolos and other towns were flooded due to tropical depression Egay and “habagat” rains.

“Ang interes ng mamamayan ng Bulacan ay hindi kayang tapatan ng anumang ipinapangako ng SMC sa proyekto nitong Aerotropolis. Ang pinagmamayabang na kikitain nito, ay sa katunayan ay nanakawin mula sa mga mamamayan ng Bulacan, dahil sa pagkawasak ng kabuhayan, at ang pinakamalala ay ang paglisan sa kanilang mga komunidad, na siya namang sasamantalahin ng mga speculator o mga real estate developers. Hindi ito development, ito ay proyekto para lamang sa higanteng tubo ng SMC,” Hicap said.

He urged the people of Bulacan to decisively oppose the Aerotropolis project and defend their communities and sources of livelihood. ###

Sources:

Bulacan Flood Maps, https://www.bulacan.gov.ph/pdcc/mapz.php

Bulacan Hazard Maps, https://www.bulacan.gov.ph/pdcc/hazardmaps.php

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