THE Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon directed the officials of Biñan City in Laguna to respond to a complaint filed by residents regarding a reclamation project in Laguna de Bay.

In an order, the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman asked Biñan City Mayor Walfredo Dimaguila, Vice Mayor Angelo Alonte and the City Council to answer within 10 days the complaint filed by Resurrecion Buarao of Bgy. Malaban and Ferdinand Tabsing of Bgy. Dela Paz.

The complaint, filed in June this year, was supported by affidavits of 42 city residents who rely on the Laguna de Bay for their livelihood.

According to the complainants, the reclamation project, which started in 2019 and covered 15 hectares of Laguna de Bay, deprived them of their source of living.

Residents of Bgy. Dela Paz and Bgy. Malaban depend on agriculture and water spinach (kangkong) that grows abundantly in Laguna De Bay for daily subsistence.

The complainants also said that since the reclamation, their villages have been experiencing flooding that lasts up to six months.

They added that their health were also compromised due to dust and noise generated by trucks transporting filling materials that caused them, particularly their children, to get sick.

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Jane Eleda