Cayetano flags ‘selective justice’ in Taguig reclamation probe
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday called on the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) to clarify its seemingly uneven enforcement of reclamation rules, citing its cease-and-desist order against projects in the City of Taguig while allowing a much larger DPWH project in Laguna Lake to proceed under coordination.
During the PRA’s budget briefing on September 22,2026, Cayetano pointed out that both projects had the same implementing agency, the DPWH, but appeared to face different treatment.
“I’m trying to see if you are doing selective justice here. You have two projects, one is more than ten times bigger, one is ten times smaller, same proponent. One is even more useful than the other,” he said.
Cayetano was referring to the Laguna Lake Road Network (LLRN), a much larger DPWH project involving road construction and reclamation along Laguna Lake. PRA officials said DPWH had committed to realign and redesign the project.
However, Cayetano asked why construction was allowed to continue despite the lack of required studies.
“Ongoing ngayon y’ung DPWH project na dambuhala ang laki compared sa Taguig. ‘Di nagsubmit sa inyo ng feasibility study [para sa project na y’un], hindi nagsubmit ng environmental study, so you will ignore that? Bakit?” he asked PRA officials.
He also asked about PRA’s claim that it had issued a show-cause order to Taguig City, saying the letter it issued merely requested for copies of land titles.
He argued that the City of Taguig was not the repository of the requested records and that the DPWH, as project proponent, should be responsible for coordinating the necessary documents.
Cayetano further challenged PRA’s enforcement of reclamation rules in other project activities, particularly those areas within the Laguna Lake.
“Baka magkamali ah. I support the LLRN. I support the Pasig River project, Malacañang is [doing a] very good job in that. This is what I want to point out: pagka Taguig Lakeshore, sinisilip niyo lahat, pero ‘pag Pasig River [project], hindi. ‘Pag ibang parts ng Laguna Lake, hindi,” he said.
Cayetano called on PRA, DPWH, and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) to resolve their overlapping concerns through closer coordination, noting than an existing framework already provides a mechanism for interagency coordination.
Executive Order No. 202, s. 2016, created a technical committee composed of representatives from the DPWH, LLDA, DENR, and PRA to coordinate matters concerning the Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike Project.
Cayetano noted that although the LLDA is now under the DENR, the agencies should coordinate their rules and policies to avoid conflicting requirements.
“Ang point ko is once upon a time you were under OP (Office of the President). Tapos ang chairman ng [LLDA] board is [under] the DENR. Pareho naman kayong [nasa] gobyerno, lahat naman kami magko-comply. Pero i-synchronize niyo y’ung rules niyo,” he said.
Cayetano said he wants the agencies to settle the matter directly rather than leave Taguig caught between conflicting rules and allegations.
“Kaunting malasakit naman pabalik sa isang siyudad na nagmamalasakit din sa lahat,” he said.
Filipino Version
‘Selective justice’ sa Taguig reclamation probe pinuna ni Cayetano
Nanawagan si Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano sa Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) na linawin ang aniya’y “selective justice” o hindi pantay na pagpapatupad nito ng mga patakaran sa reclamation.
Sa budget briefing ng PRA nitong September 22, 2026, itinuro ni Cayetano ang pagpapatigil ng mga proyekto sa Taguig habang nagpapatuloy naman ang mas malaking proyekto ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) sa Laguna Lake.
Ipinunto niya na iisa ang implementing agency ng dalawang proyekto – ang DPWH – ngunit tila magkaiba ang naging pagtrato sa mga ito.
“I’m trying to see if you are doing selective justice here. You have two projects, one is more than ten times bigger, one is ten times smaller, same proponent. One is even more useful than the other,” sabi niya.
Ang tinutukoy ni Cayetano ay ang Laguna Lake Road Network (LLRN), isang malaking proyekto ng DPWH na kinabibilangan ng pagtatayo ng mga kalsada at reclamation sa kahabaan ng Laguna Lake.
Ayon sa mga opisyal ng PRA, nangako ang DPWH na babaguhin ang alignment at disenyo ng proyekto.
Kinuwestiyon ni Cayetano kung bakit nagpapatuloy ang konstruksyon sa kabila ng kawalan ng mga kinakailangang pag-aaral.
“Ongoing ngayon y’ung DPWH project na dambuhala ang laki compared sa Taguig. ‘Di nagsubmit sa inyo ng feasibility study (para sa project na y’un), hindi nagsubmit ng environmental study, so you will ignore that? Bakit?” tanong ni Cayetano sa mga opisyal ng PRA.
Kinuwestiyon din ng senador ang pahayag ng PRA na naglabas ito ng show-cause order laban sa Taguig City.
Ayon kay Cayetano, ang liham na inilabas ng ahensya ay humihingi lamang ng kopya ng mga titulo ng lupa at hindi naman malinaw na nagpapaliwanag kung bakit kailangang managot ang lungsod.
Iginiit niya na hindi Taguig ang may hawak ng mga hinihinging dokumento at dapat ang DPWH, bilang proponent ng proyekto, ang manguna sa pag-aayos at pagsusumite ng mga kinakailangang papeles.
Pinalawak din ni Cayetano ang kanyang pagtatanong sa pagpapatupad ng mga patakaran sa reclamation sa iba pang proyekto, partikular sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng Laguna Lake.
“Baka magkamali ah. I support the LLRN. I support the Pasig River project, Malacañang is (doing a) very good job in that. This is what I want to point out: pagka Taguig Lakeshore, sinisilip niyo lahat, pero ‘pag Pasig River (project), hindi. ‘Pag ibang parts ng Laguna Lake, hindi,” wika niya.
Binigyang diin ni Cayetano na hindi niya tinututulan ang LLRN o ang Pasig River project. Ang nais niyang linawin ay kung bakit tila mas mahigpit ang pagsusuri sa Taguig Lakeshore kumpara sa ibang proyekto.
Hinimok din niya ang PRA, DPWH at Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) na ayusin ang kanilang overlapping na mandato at mga patakaran sa pamamagitan ng mas maayos na koordinasyon.
May umiiral nang mekanismo para rito sa ilalim ng Executive Order No. 202, s. 2016, na bumuo ng technical committee na binubuo ng mga kinatawan mula sa DPWH, LLDA, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) at PRA upang mag-ugnayan sa mga usapin kaugnay ng Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike Project.
Ayon kay Cayetano, kahit nasa ilalim na ngayon ng DENR ang LLDA, kailangang magkasundo ang mga ahensya sa kanilang mga patakaran upang maiwasan ang magkakasalungat na requirements.
“Ang point ko is once upon a time you were under OP (Office of the President). Tapos ang chairman ng (LLDA) board is (under) the DENR. Pareho naman kayong (nasa) gobyerno, lahat naman kami magko-comply. Pero i-synchronize niyo y’ung rules niyo,” sabi niya.
Nais ni Cayetano na direktang magkasundo ang mga ahensya sa halip na manatiling nasa gitna ang Taguig sa magkakaibang patakaran at mga alegasyon.
“Kaunting malasakit naman pabalik sa isang siyudad na nagmamalasakit din sa lahat,” wika ng senador.
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