We have long ignored the flashing red light warning us that the sea will eventually take back the large areas taken from Manila Bay as the burgeoning city looked farther west for more residential and commercial space to develop. Manila Bay, immortalized in music and poetry, has shrunk and its famous sunset pushed farther away on the horizon despite attempts by environmentalists and concerned groups to stop its aggressive reclamation. Comes now Greenpeace East Asia reporting that the capital city, particularly its low-lying section closest to the bay, may be taken back by the sea in 10 years as the water level continues to rise with climate change and the flooding of coastal areas. The commercial structures built on the reclaimed sections, and the businesses established in them, have until 2030 or thereabouts to recoup their investments and run away with reasonable returns, if the group’s disturbing prognosis materializes.

Pascual, F. D. Jr. (2021, July 4). The sea taking back reclaimed bay areas. The Philippine Star, p. 8.