President Marcos’ unwavering commitment to infrastructure development, as articulated in his “Build Better More” program, serves as the bedrock for this transformative endeavor. (Photo courtesy: PCO)
For President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., progress must not come at the expense of the environment.
This principle guided his decision in 2023 to suspend the large-scale reclamation projects in Manila Bay, which were approved by the previous administration.
Recognizing the potential negative impact of these projects on the environment, President Marcos halted these projects to allow further studies and ensure their compliance with environmental regulations.
While prioritizing a thorough review of the projects’ compliance, President Marcos also assessed their potential benefits to the economy, demonstrating a balanced approach to progress.
Such action was a clear testament to his commitment to a sustainable economic development under his vision of a “Bagong Pilipinas”.
Balanced Approach
Following the government’s meticulous evaluation, the Chief Executive authorized the resumption of certain projects, highlighting their economic potential and sustainable capacities.
Such was the case with the 360-hectare development project in Pasay City, estimated to be worth USD2.6 million (PHP150 billion) and dubbed as “Pasay 360”.
The presidential greenlight came after a rigorous evaluation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA).
Both agencies ensured the project was fully aligned with the conditions stipulated in the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and Area Clearance (AC).
Pasay City has been previously granted an ECC dated October 24, 2017 for the proposed 360-hectare reclamation project under a joint venture with SM Smart City Infrastructure and Development Corp., which will be connected to the SM Mall of Asia complex.
Aside from passing the strict review conducted by the DENR and PRA, the decisive move of President Marcos took into serious consideration the collective economic impact of the Pasay Eco-City Coastal Development Projects, including Pasay 360.
Pasay 360 is expected to generate over one million jobs and billions of pesos in taxes for the national and local governments.
The ambitious project is expected to be completed before the end of the Chief Executive’s term in 2028. It is set to essentially redefine Pasay City’s skyline and infrastructure, as well as significantly upgrade its social and economic landscape.
President Marcos’ unwavering commitment to infrastructure development, as articulated in his “Build Better More” program, serves as the bedrock for this transformative endeavor.
A glimpse into the future: Scale model of Pasay Harbor City, the ‘Manhattan of Manila Bay,’ showcases the ambitious reclamation project that is bound to transform the Pasay coastline. (Photo courtesy: Pasay Harbor City Corporation)
Welcoming Development
Amelita Sucayan, a resident of Pasay for two decades, expressed excitement over the project and looked forward to its completion.
“Let’s welcome development. This is good for the people of Pasay, the local government, and for the country as well,” Sucayan said in Filipino.
Moreover, her husband Luis, who has no permanent job, may be able to find one during the construction of the project.
“Syempre naman, maraming kailangang trabahador diyan. Sa construction pa lang, malaking tulong na sa mga nangangailangan,” Luis said.
SM Prime, for its part, is committed to the success of Pasay 360, through its infrastructure arm SM Engineering Design & Development Corp.
“The vision for that project for us is to leverage everything that we’ve learned with the 60 hectares that we have in the MOA complex…into a bigger and better project… We’d love for you to see what we can try to deliver for something that is twice the size of BGC,” SM Prime President Hans Sy Jr. said.
Building upon the Success of MOA Complex
Many will know, of course, that when SM Mall of Asia opened in 2006, it was the largest mall in Asia, and sixth in the world.
Although it lost the title to a newly redeveloped SM North EDSA in 2008, and then again to an expanded SM Megamall in 2011, it regained its status as the largest mall in the Philippines with the opening of IKEA Pasay City in 2021, the largest IKEA store in the world.
SM Mall of Asia serves an estimated daily average of over 200,000 people. It has created hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs, and generated billions of pesos in revenue for Pasay City.
Apart from SM’s success with the SM Mall of Asia complex, Pasay is also a prime candidate for reclamation and development projects because of the potential for expansion in its coastal areas.
As one of the smallest cities in Metro Manila in terms of land area, Pasay’s future lies in its extensive coastlines and municipal waters. The demand for commercial and residential real estate in Metro Manila is high and still growing.
Pasay City government officials have shown themselves as willing and able to meet that demand.
City Administrator Manzano said part of Pasay’s troubles is “acute land scarcity and urban congestion.” But SM Prime Holdings’ planned development will change all of that and create considerable revenue for the local and national government in the process, he added.
Pasay City may stand to gain over PHP1.1 trillion in tax revenue from such development projects, shall these come into fruition.
SM Prime is set to hand over the land to the city government of Pasay in 2028, and development is well underway, with the company in charge of developing the actual raw land and completing horizontal development work.
“We will do the whole reclamation, after which when we start dividing the land, that’s when the joint venture comes in,” Sy said.
The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) board of directors, led by its Chairman Atty. Alexander Lopez, conducted a comprehensive on-site inspection and technical assessment of the Pasay 260-hectare and Pasay 360-hectare Pasay City reclamation projects. (Photo courtesy: PRA)
Collaboration is the Name of the Game
The SM Group of Companies plans to invite other developers to come in and expand on the new land once reclamation activities are completed.
“It’s not something that we will just do by ourselves. As I’ve been pushing, the future of businesses is collaborations. We cannot do it by ourselves anymore, it has to be in collaboration with a lot of other developers,” Sy said.
Dredging activities began in September 2021, and by December 2022 it was estimated that a total of 86.13 hectares of land had already been reclaimed.
Once finished, Pasay City will receive 30.24 hectares, while the national government will receive a land share of 138.6 hectares. An additional 93 hectares are set to be allocated for roads and open spaces, as approved by the PRA Governing Board.
SM Prime Holdings further intends Pasay 360 to be an eco-friendly development, highlighting its use of blue and green infrastructures.
Glenn Ang, President of SM Smart City Infrastructure and Development Corporation, assured lawmakers the project is backed by all the necessary studies. “DENR is working now [on] the cumulative impact of all of the other reclamations it built together,” he said.
“And we’re very much open to all of these.”
The project was already certified as fully compliant with pre-reclamation requirements in July of 2021, just before dredging activities began.
In November 2023, the PRA approved a new landform configuration for the project involving a 300-meter-wide water channel extending from the Pasay City mainland as part of a commitment to the DENR, with further plans to widen the channel to 478 meters.
The game-changing project promises to become 300 hectares of exciting new opportunities. With plans for commercial, residential, institutional, and tourism estates, it will boost the local and national economy, ease congestion in the metropolis by funneling workers and residents toward a brand-new development, and generate new resources for both Pasay CIty and other national government units.
Pasay 360 will stand as a fulfillment of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s promise to the Filipino people for a “Bagong Pilipinas”. (PBS)
