The United States government has expressed concerns over the “negative long-term and irreversible” impact on the environment of the ongoing reclamation projects in Manila Bay which are allegedly linked to a Chinese construction firm.
In a statement on Wednesday, US Embassy in the Philippines spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay said the reclamation projects in Manila Bay may affect the resilience to natural hazards of the country’s capital region and nearby areas, as well as to its commerce.
Gangopadhyay also particularly mentioned reclamation projects handled by China Communications Construction Co., a firm that was added to the US Department of Commerce’s Entity List for its role in helping the Chinese military construct and militarize artificial islands in the South China Sea.
“The company has also been cited by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank for engaging in fraudulent business practices,” he said.
Of 32 ongoing reclamation projects in Manila Bay, China Communications Construction Co., or CCCC, is involved in two projects such as the Pasay Harbor City Reclamation Project and Manila Waterfront City Development Project.
Earlier this year, the state-run Chinese construction firm, vowed to make more investments in the Philippines, shortly after its officials met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in a courtesy call in Malacanang.
Aside from its alleged hand in the reclamation projects in Manila Bay, CCCC is also supporting other infrastructure projects in the Philippines, including the Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project and North & South Harbor Bridge, among others.
The Presidential Communications Office previously said that the CCCC proposed to Marcos the construction of the 270-km Laoag City-Rosario City Highway Project, Juncao Technology Demonstration Center, and a Juncao Industrial Park for Juncao grass cultivation and processing.
Juncao is a hybrid of the Giant Napier Grass developed by the Fujian Agriculture and Forest University from eight different types of grass through tissue culture.
The proposed Juncao technology project, once approved, will be funded through Chinese foreign aid, PCO said.
According to the Embassy, the US government would continue “to support high quality, sustainable, and transparent investments to benefit the Filipino people.”
Likewise, it stressed that they would continue to engage with the appropriate authorities on the matter.
The Daily Tribune has sought comments from the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding the issue, but it has yet to respond as of press time.