The government will ensure that the 42 hectares of mangroves in Subic Bay Freeport’s watershed reserve will not be adversely affected by the planned construction of a China-funded railway project, an official of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Friday. The promise to protect the two wide patches of mangroves was made in response to appeals by the Save Subic Bay Mangroves Coalition, a private group of residents and business leaders, for the project proponents led by the DOTr to spare the area from damage. “As instructed by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, we have to make sure that we are observing all of the necessary environmental requirements and safeguards,” Timothy John Batan, DOTr undersecretary for railways, said in a television interview.

Orejas, T. (2021, July 3). Railway project ordered tweaked to spare Subic mangroves. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A3.