Subpar Expressway:
The Paradox of Environmental Disaster Behind LLRN Project
WORDS & CAPTIONS Felicity Castor, Francis Jayco Dela Cruz, John Wendell Laniog, Larriezel Morada, Jorland Salando, & Kyla Vivero
PHOTOS Kyla Vivero & Francis Jayco Dela Cruz
LLRN workers setting up the excavator under the Sun for the embankment in Angono Lakeside.
Connecting communities: The Laguna Lakeshore Road Network dream
(From left to right) The ongoing LLRN project at Angono Lakeside.
As "an outer ring high standard highway" for Laguna de Bay, the proposed Laguna Lakeshore Road Network (LLRN) Project will provide vehicles heading into the southern and northern provinces a "safer and far more convenient" alternative route.
It is among the 194 “high-impact and urgently needed infrastructure projects” approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board on March 9, 2023.
The LLRN project is a road network scheme to be constructed near Laguna Lake to ease traffic flow from Laguna to the southern part of Metro Manila.
The Laguna Lakeshore Road Network-Phase 1 involves the construction of a 21.5-kilometer viaduct and a 15.9-kilometer embankment along the west shoreline of Laguna Lake, starting from Barangay Lower Bicutan in Taguig to Calamba City in Laguna.
According to DPWH, it will also cover the construction of eight interchanges proposed to connect municipal boundaries to the nearest public road along Lower Bicutan, Sucat, Alabang, Tunasan, San Pedro/Biñan, Santa Rosa, Cabuyao, and Calamba, for a total project cost of P175.3-billion.
The detailed engineering design for LLRN Phase 2—which involves creating a route along the coast from north to south via an eastern route—is almost finished, and it is expected to be part of the civil works loan for Phase 1.
The project also involves reclamation of 700 hectares west of and abutting the expressway-dike, separated from the shoreline by a 100–150 meter channel in Taguig and Muntinlupa.
Together with Laguna Lakeshore Development Authority, DPWH planned the building of a project that will improve the connection between Metro Manila and Laguna. This project will provide a more reliable transportation route, provide access to markets and opportunities for jobs, and draw tourism to the region.
LLDA was established as a quasi-government organization under Republic Act No. 4850. Its main responsibility is to supervise Laguna Lake's jurisdiction and environmental protection procedures. It was also designed to integrate a flood-control system meant to protect flood-prone areas along Laguna Lake.
Diving deeper: The extensive effects of LLRN to Laguna de Bay
Meters of embankment from the LLRN project obstructing the “right of way” of the fisherfolk in Angono.
The Laguna de Bay is the largest inland lake in the country. It is surrounded by parts of Metro Manila and provinces of Laguna and Rizal and is connected to Manila Bay and Pasig River.
For years, Laguna Lake has been battling serious pollution primarily because of human activities.
Despite the lake being able to meet the threshold for a Class C fresh water status, it is still considered polluted according to some studies.
In a study presented in Japan Geoscience Union Meeting in 2012, it is said that the water quality of Laguna Lake “has significantly deteriorated” because of several factors including pollution from soil erosion, effluents from chemical industries, and household discharges.
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Despite the existence of the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 or the Republic Act No. 9275, which endeavors to protect and preserve the country's water resources, the Laguna de Bay continues to face abuse and neglect.
The heavy growth of water hyacinth and water lilies around the lakeshore is evidence for its pollution as it grows in population on water bodies with a high concentration of pollutants.
Moreover, the wastewater from the sewages of Angono is directly going to the lake’s vicinity. This is confirmed in an interview with Architect Jaime Salazar from the municipality of Angono.
“Actually, nagbo-block ng waterway namin yung embankment… Kasi kapag once na hindi [ito] nag go-through magiging pusali kami kasi yung black water namin dyan pumapatak sa lawa,” Arch. Salazar explained.
(Actually, our waterways are getting blocked because of the embankment… Because once it cannot go through we will become a “septic tank” because the black water directly goes to the lake.)
Even though there are various rehabilitation projects conducted for the pollution, Laguna Lake still evidently deteriorated over the years because of a lack of sustained and serious efforts by the government to restore it.
Conversely, a group of fisherfolk in Angono, Rizal called Samahan ng mga Mangingisda sa San Vicente expressed reservations on dredging projects citing the negative impacts on their municipality such as disturbance of marine life, restricting fisherfolk from fishing in dredging zones, pollution, and opportunities for privatization.
Nicanor San Jose, 67, scaling tilapia he caught from fishing in Laguna Lake while giving an interview.
“Kasi ang [gagawin] nila dyan, tatambakan muna yung palibot na yan. Gagawin ngang kalsada, at saka gagawan ng tulay. Ibig sabihin, patay ang aming hanapbuhay, kasi hindi kami makakalabas do’n,” Vice President of Samahan ng Mangingisda ng San Vicente Nicanor San Jose said.
(Because, what they would do is that they would first embank around the area. Hence, creating a road and a bridge. Our livelihood would be halted because we couldn’t we won’t be able to get out of the area.)
This road project continues to get flak for the environmental and systemic issues it will bring once built.
On selective vs. holistic progress: How the LLRN affects neighboring communities
Gonzalo de Jesus, 80, amidst sunset, awaiting tourists to avail his boat ride.
Gonzalo de Jesus, the 80-year-old resident of Barangay San Vicente from Angono, Rizal said in an interview last Monday, January 29, the bay is his family’s main source of food and income.
“Simula ng sinimulan ‘yong proyekto, nahirapan na kami makahuli [ng isda],” Gonzalo said.
(Since the reclamation projects started, we barely catch anything.)
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“Mawawalan na kami ng lupa para sa pabahay, babahain at babahain pa kami para doon sa isang proyekto na hindi naman serbisyo kung hindi negosyo,” he added.
(We will not only lose land for housing, but we will also be subject to flooding because of a project that is for profit and not for public service.)
Gonzalo also mentioned that ocean waters have become muddy because of the dredging operations. The machines are also very loud.
"All these have caused the fish to either stop laying eggs or to completely leave their usual breeding grounds where we also harvest them," according to Gonzalo.
Despite potential danger to the lake and livelihood of fisherfolk, Laguna Lakeshore Road Network (LLRN) Project is still in the works, backed by the LGU Angono after endorsing its construction.
Fisherfolk, led by the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (FARMC) in Rizal, filed a complaint before the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) on Wednesday, January 10, asking for the suspension of reclamation activities in Laguna Lake.
Fisherfolk are on the losing end if reclamation activities for the development projects in Laguna Lake continue, said Sonny San Jose, chairperson of Rizal FARMC, in a statement.
“Sa pagliit ng espasyo na puwede naming pangisdaan, lumiliit din ang aming kabuhayan,” San Jose said.
(As the space available for fishing shrinks, so does our livelihood.)
Aside from fishing, residents also unload their harvest of water spinach and vegetable crops that help put food on the table.
Laguna Lake as a ‘sacrifice zone’: Environmental groups’ take on the reclamation projects
With the ongoing LLRN project, environmental groups and NGOs are concerned about its possible extensive harm to the lake’s biodiversity and water quality.
Jinky Esguerra, Campaign Senior Officer at Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, expounded on the impacts of the project to Laguna Lake’s ecosystem and other proposed projects in the area.
She emphasized the immediate impacts of the LLRN project on the already polluted Laguna Lake and its surrounding livelihood.
(Left) Actual embankment area in Angono Lakeside (Right) Water hyacinth growth in the lake.
"Mas papatayin niya in a quicker way ‘yung Laguna Lake ecosystem. And when I say ecosystem, hindi lang ito yung lawa, pati yung isda, birds, even mga halaman, and mga communities na nakatira diyan...So nandiyan ang issue ng further environmental degradation, community displacement, and even baka nga yung mga species dyan na doon lang makikita ay baka ma-extinct na dito.”
The PMCJ has already requested for a dialogue with the LLDA through legal means in line with the conflicts with the water blockage and the fishermen’s right of way because of the project, but the LLDA has yet to respond.
Esguerra mentioned that the fishermen themselves went to the office of the LLDA but also got no response from the management.
“Even yung mga mangingisda, nakikipagcoordinate naman sila closely hindi lang sa LLDA, pati sa munisipyo para mabigyan ng sagot o tugon yung mga hinahain nilang concern related doon sa project. Yung ikinalulungkot nila ay parang tinuturo sila sa iba’t ibang ahensya,” she said.
(Left) Kangkong farmers harvesting in the middle of the lake (Middle) a fisherman preparing his boat (Right) Nicanor San Jose scaling his catch from the lake.
On the topic of DPWH’s project planning, Esguerra explained how their concept of development is infrastructure-centric approach, driven by capital or profit, rather than considering long-term environmental impacts, citing Laguna Lake's patchwork solutions like building infrastructures around the area instead of comprehensive rehabilitation and reviving the polluted Laguna Lake because rehabilitating it would cost more.
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“Unless mabago yung ganoong klaseng development framework ng ating government ay mananatili yung track nila nung development ay more on infrastructure and not investing in ecosystem services, environmental benefits na makukuha sa lake and even recreational activities,” she explained.
The Angono LGU claimed that projects like the LLRN are ‘inevitable’ for development because of the growing number of cars and the need for more access roads, but Esguerra disagrees. She explained the concept of a “sacrifice zone,” wherein communities are being compromised for the sake of the “greater good” such as in the LLRN project.
Esguerra reveals a lapse in LLDA and DPWH's handling of LLRN, including lack of public consultation and barely complying with environmental policies, which is one of the most crucial steps before implementing a project.
She also explained how contractors submit incomprehensive studies just for the sake of it, and how fisherfolk communities complaining about the project is proof that they were not consulted in the first place.
Furthermore, this behavior of merely acknowledging the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) System and not taking further action to improve it is not new. Esguerra explained how the PMCJ takes action towards upholding these policies starting from exhausting local sources and administrative processes all the way to the national level.
She added how legal battles regarding environmental cases help lobby the situation to make people more aware, widen the interpretation of the law, and to urge the government to act upon these cases.
“…Hopefully, magkaroon nga ng amendment doon sa EIA Laws natin, at syempre, imi-make sure natin na yung amendment na yun ay hindi para mapabilis pa ‘yung application ng mga project proponents, lalo na sa mga environmental destructive projects, but para ma-ensure talaga na dadaan sila sa butas ng karayom bago sila ma-approve.”
Esguerra proposes more eco-friendly solutions than roadwork and infrastructure projects like the LLRN such as improving public transportation like the ferry system which is a more accessible option as well.
“Iwan na natin sa nakaraan ‘yung pagiging car-centric or pagiging private vehicle-centric ng ating government…Bukod sa mababawasan ‘yung demand sa private vehicles, syempre in terms of environmental impact, yung pollution na nanggagaling sa napakaraming sasakyan, alam mong magde-decrease din.”
Esguerra added how it is also important for environmental groups and fisherfolk and farming communities to highlight the different forms of life existing and benefiting from the lake such as various species who use it as a habitat.