Land Reclamation Reshapes Philippine Lake Communities
Extensive land reclamation projects around Laguna de Bay in the Philippines are altering shorelines and disrupting the lives of communities dependent on the lake. The development raises questions about environmental justice and policy oversight as urban growth continues in the region.
- Fisherfolk groups report that the mud from reclamation projects has made the lake shallower, which has slowed fish breeding cycles from one year to nearly two. Some fishermen have been forced to abandon their livelihoods and return to their home provinces due to dwindling catches. - The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) has stated that it has not approved any reclamation projects in Laguna de Bay and has ordered the immediate cessation of all unauthorized activities. The agency has warned that those involved in illegal reclamation may face administrative, civil, and criminal liability. - At least 22 reclamation projects are planned for Laguna de Bay, which have put the livelihoods of over 13,000 fisherfolk in Rizal, Laguna, and Metro Manila at risk. Among the large-scale projects that have been approved is the Pasig River Expressway Project (PAREX). - Environmental experts warn that converting parts of the lake to land will worsen flooding in surrounding areas as it reduces the lake's natural capacity as a catch basin. Structures built on this reclaimed land are also more vulnerable to subsidence and the impacts of earthquakes. - In October 2025, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) revealed that a project presented as a flood control initiative along C6 Road was actually a reclamation project. Satellite imagery confirmed that land was being created within the lake. - Fisherfolk and environmental organizations, including the Rizal Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (FARMC) and the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), have filed formal complaints with the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) to suspend reclamation activities. - One of the most significant proposed projects is the Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike, which would involve the construction of a 47-kilometer expressway and the reclamation of 700 hectares of land. Fisherfolk and residents fear this project will lead to widespread displacement. - Some reclamation practices have involved dumping garbage, including construction materials and plastic waste, into the lake and then covering it with soil, a practice observed by members of the fisherfolk group PAMALAKAYA.
