Private groups started a petition on Saturday to oppose the proposed plan to reclaim a portion of the Manila Bay between the US Embassy and the Manila Yacht Club. Leading the call to stop the City of Manila’s plan is a coalition of urban poor groups, heritage activists, environmentalists and the Archdiocese of Manila, represented by Fr. John Leydon. Called the SOS Manila Bay Coalition, it aims to repeal the Manila City ordinance which allows the reclamation of the contested area.
There have been prior plans to reclaim the area in question, the latest was in 1992. This led to the City of Manila issuing an ordinance banning any reclamation of the area, GMA News reported.
