Palace nixes review on Laguna Lake project

MANILA -- Malacañang said the controversial P18.7-billion Laguna Lake Rehabilitation Project remains cancelled, despite newspaper reports saying that the deal is under review.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda made the clarification Friday following pronouncements from Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) general manager Rodrigo Cabrera that President Benigno Aquino III wanted some “revisions” in the project.

“I spoke to President Aquino. It’s clear that his views on this deal have not changed. It’s already been cancelled,” he said.

Lacierda added that Cabrera will soon meet Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa to explain his statements.

The LLDA rehabilitation project was used as one of the examples in the President’s first 100 days message, wherein he expressed his reservations about the project.

“It was as if the contract was approved even if it did not go through the proper procedures. We will not allow 'hocus pocus' in the project. We will review it thoroughly to ensure that the funds for the project will not be wasted,” Aquino said, adding that the dredged materials will only be transferred to another area.

The project, which will be financed by Belgian firm Baggerwerken Decloedt en Zoon (BDC), involves the dredging of the Laguna Lake navigational lane and the entire eight-kilometer stretch of the Napindan Channel. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)