PAMALAKAYA warns of Chinese takeover of Manila Bay
Chinese POGO site in Kawit, Cavite reclaming parts of Manila Bay.
Bacoor City, Cavite — The national fishers group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) on Saturday alleged the provincial government of Cavite to be allowing China to occupy the fishing waters in the southern part of Manila Bay, through the construction of the 32-hectare complex for a Chinese Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO).
The POGO island in Cavite is the former Island Cove, which is expected to host at least 20,000 to 50,000 Chinese upon its completion.
In a statement, PAMALAKAYA national chairperson Fernando Hicap said his group is continuing to receive reports from its members on the province regarding the ongoing construction of the POGO island, which includes reclamation of certain parts of Manila Bay.
“We raise alarm over this dubious construction of a complex with reclamation activity. Wasn’t the provincial government of Cavite aware that the Manila Bay is currently undergoing a massive rehabilitation drive? Or better yet, we raise our question to environment secretary Roy Cimatu if he knows any of this. It seems that the head of the Manila Bay Task Force created to expedite the restoration of Manila Bay is sleeping in oblivion,” Hicap said in a statement issued to media outfits.
“Same with the Boracay island, the government’s rehabilitation drive, dubbed as the Battle for Manila Bay, is fast-exposing itself as a farce and a mockery. The cleaning up of solid wastes is nothing but a publicity stunt, and apparently a preparation for grand sellout and transformation of the productive Manila Bay into Chinese business haven,” Hicap, former Anakpawis Partylist solon and a resident fisherman in Rosario Cavite added.
Also in Sangley Point in Cavite City, the provincial government is partnering with a certain Chinese developer to construct a P500-B international airport, wherein reclamation activity has already been ongoing amid the pending status of the project in the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA). ###
