Sen. Loren Legarda has urged the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) to be proactive and restore the ecological balance of Manila Bay instead of simply developing it through reclamation. At Thursday’s hearing on the Neda budget and that of its attached agencies, Legarda, the Senate finance committee chair, called on the Neda to ensure the sustainability of Manila Bay by restoring its ecological integrity. The Neda is looking to craft a P250-million Manila Bay development master plan to be undertaken between next year and 2019, aimed at coordinating the efforts of the national and local governments to develop the region and stimulate economic growth. Legarda pointed out that while there was a need to build more concrete cities, “the priority should be ensuring that present cities are sustainable.”

Andrade, J. I. (2016, October 15). Loren to Neda: restore ecology of Manila Bay. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A4.