The Philippines’ President Rodrigo R. Duterte has approved the transfer of the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) to the Office of the President (OP).
Under Executive Order No. 74 signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Feb. 1, the transfer of PRA aims “to rationalize the approval process for reclamation projects towards an economically and environmentally sustainable resource development.”
“The PRA shall be under the control and supervision of the OP, while the power of the President to approve all reclamation projects shall be delegated to the PRA Governing Board ,” the document said.
“Such delegation, however, shall not be construed as diminishing the President’s authority to modify, amend, or nullify the action of the PRA Governing Board. ”
It may be recalled that the PRA used to be under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The order also states that no reclamation project must be approved by the PRA without the required Area Clearance and Environmental Compliance Certificate to be issued by the DENR.
Earlier, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada approved three reclamation projects at the Manila Bay which will transform the coastal sections of Manila and Pasay into modern business districts.