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Transcript
00:00 The US Embassy added to the list of people in charge of the reclamation in Manila Bay.
00:06 Aside from the environmental risk, the contractor is also behind the artificial island in the South China Sea.
00:13 This is the answer of the Philippine Reclamation Authority in the statement of JP Soriano.
00:17 This is the project plan or map of the Manila Waterfront Reclamation Project.
00:25 It is a 300 hectare reclamation project where land will be used to be used as residential, tourism and business area.
00:36 This project of the Manila Waterfront is under the US Embassy's control in the Philippines.
00:43 The project's dredging contractor is First China Highways,
00:48 a subsidiary of the China Communications Construction Company or CCCC.
00:54 The CCCC is a part of the construction and militarization of China's artificial islands in the South China Sea.
01:03 It is also included in the US Department of Commerce's entity list that is subject to restrictions on commerce in America.
01:11 These reclamation activities that are being conducted by the PRC through companies like the CCCC
01:20 are things that the Philippine government itself opposes.
01:22 As your ally, the US government is with you in opposing these activities.
01:28 I think that the Philippines in particular should be concerned about the involvement of CCCC on this project.
01:34 This is a company that's been blacklisted specifically for illegal reclamation activities in the Philippine EEZ.
01:40 The Philippine Reclamation Authority or PRA said that the CCCC of the Manila Waterfront Reclamation Project
01:49 was under the control of the Philippines during its operation in the Philippines in 2022.
01:56 We did not receive any categorical blacklisting from these corporations.
02:03 These are all allegations from news outside the Philippines that they're involved in the reclamation of the West Philippine Sea,
02:15 the artificial islands.
02:18 Their permits were processed.
02:20 So we assume that they're doing business here on a legal manner or lawful way of doing business right now.
02:35 When the reaction was heard, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said that it will send a comment at the time it is ready.
02:44 We also request the Manila City Hall and its partner in this project, Waterfront Philippines Inc.
02:52 Earlier, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian confirmed that his family is connected to this business even though he himself is not.
03:02 He said that he is willing to go through the legal and proper process of the Manila Waterfront Reclamation Project.
03:08 The senator has no direct connection to the allegations of the U.S. Embassy, but Gatchalian has a message here.
03:16 My advice to them is look at the process.
03:18 The U.S. Embassy is willing to go through the process, the rule of law.
03:23 They should abide by the rule of law and the process.
03:26 The Embassy of America is located right in front of Manila Bay, near the various reclamation activities that are being done right now.
03:34 What we're concerned about is not the negative impact that the project would have on any view of the Embassy,
03:39 but the negative impact that it has on the city of Manila and through the involvement of the CCCC,
03:43 the possible national security implications that this project could bring up for the Philippines.
03:49 According to the DENR, they will conduct an investigation on the impact or effect of the project on the environment
03:56 and the quality of the water that is being used by environmental groups due to the rapid and frequent flooding in different parts of Metro Manila.
04:06 We will be conducting a cumulative impact assessment of the reclamation projects as approved
04:13 so that we can demonstrate or illustrate and share what the cumulative impact of all of these projects would be on Manila Bay.
04:25 According to the PRA, they are expected to meet with officials of the City of Manila,
04:31 companies involved in the project, and the DFA.
04:35 For GMA Integrated News, JP Soriano, 24 Hours.
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05:02 [Music]

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