WHAT'S HAPPENING TO BULACAN FISHERFOLK?
HERE'S THE RUNDOWN
700 FAMILIES DISPLACED
The New Manila International Airport (NMIA) project has displaced approximately 700 families in Bulakan, Bulacan. However, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) officially recognized only 359 households as eligible for relocation or compensation.
MILITARY AGGRESSION
According to multiple local reports, the development of the project has been accompanied with military presence and threats, raising questions regarding ethics and the welfare of the affected communities.
FISHERIES AT RISK
90.8% of Bulacan’s fisheries output comes from aquaculture, which is directly affected by the NMIA’s land reclamation efforts. This raises concerns not only for the livelihoods of fisherfolk but also for the region’s food supply.
1 OUT OF 25 MANILA BAY RECLAMATION PROJECTS
The NMIA is part of a larger plan involving 25 reclamation projects across Manila Bay. These projects have sparked debates about their long-term effects on coastal ecosystems and local communities.
1 MILLION TONNES OF CARBON EMISSIONS
According to SMC’s 2021 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), the NMIA’s construction is expected to emit 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂. Once operational, aircraft landing and take-off cycles are projected to produce over 1 million tonnes of CO₂ annually.
80% OF INCOME CUT
Reports from affected fisherfolk indicate an 80% decrease in daily income — from earning around P1,000 per day before the project to P200–P300 per day after fishing restrictions were imposed.
APRIL 2018
San Miguel Corporation (SMC) submits an unsolicited proposal for the New Manila International Airport (NMIA)—a P735-billion project aimed at easing congestion at NAIA and boosting economic growth. The airport is planned to cover 2,500 hectares in Bulakan, Bulacan, through land reclamation in Manila Bay.
Lambat Photo
SEPTEMBER 2019
After a Swiss challenge with no competing bids, SMC, through its unit San Miguel Aerocity Inc., signs a concession agreement with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to build and operate the NMIA for 50 years. The airport will be fully owned by the Philippine government under a build-operate-transfer program.
Photo by Shara Joy Tobias/Altermidya
OCTOBER 2020
The groundbreaking ceremony for the NMIA takes place on October 14, 2020, marking the commencement of the project’s initial phase.
Photo from Kalikasan PNE
MARCH 2022
The actual construction of the first phase of the NMIA, including two runways and terminal buildings, begins on March 18, 2022. The completion of this phase is planned for 2028.
Photo by Gaea Cabico/Philstar
LAMBAT NG HANGIN: THE DOCUMENTARY
The 4-part documentary series unveils the hidden realities behind the New Manila International Airport (NMIA) project in Bulacan.
NOW WHAT?
BE INVOLVED
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