Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines, is undergoing a quiet transformation along its shores. Satellite image analysis by Philstar.com has identified at least four areas where the shoreline has been visibly extended through artificial means, a process known as reclamation. For the roughly 31 fish species that call the lake home and the thousands of families who depend on it for their livelihood, these changes are not abstract — they are reshaping daily life in ways that are often difficult to reverse.
One of those directly affected is Ramonito Domingo, a fisher who has lived near the lake for over three decades. He told Philstar.com that as construction intensified around him, the quality of his catch dropped sharply. Mud from reclamation projects has made the waters shallower, and fish breeding has slowed — growth cycles stretching from about a year to nearly two. Domingo attributes this to pollution from development, a pattern that fisherfolk groups say has been unfolding for decades. The situation is not unique to one area; similar shoreline extensions are visible in parts of Laguna and Rizal, according to environmental experts who reviewed the satellite imagery. For a deeper look at how pollution affects aquatic ecosystems, you can read about how dirty water smothers Filipino corals.
What reclamation means for the lake and its people
At its core, reclamation is the deliberate conversion of submerged areas into dry land. The Philippine Reclamation Authority defines it as a process using dredge fill or other materials for specific purposes. But what sounds like a straightforward engineering solution has layered consequences. Fernando Hicap, national chairperson of fisherfolk group PAMALAKAYA, told Philstar.com that in the 1980s, two days of fishing could support an entire family. Now, fishers catch only a few types of fish. Many of the group’s members have left the area entirely, returning to their home provinces because catches have dwindled so much.
Hicap described a practice that goes beyond standard engineering: he said he personally witnessed truckloads of trash — from construction materials to plastic waste — being dumped into the lake and then covered with soil. “The reclamation that they practice there is the worst,” he told Philstar.com, “because they throw in trash, cover it with land, then trash again, and then land.” Local governments welcomed it, he added, because it reduced pressure on dumpsites.
The ecological cost of burying a living lake
Diuvs De Jesus, a marine biologist from Oceana, explained to Philstar.com that reclamation buries living, productive environments. Even muddy areas serve an economic and ecological purpose, acting as breeding or nursery grounds for marine organisms. Shallower areas also support birdlife. “You won’t be able to restore its original state, or it’s totally destroyed when it’s reclaimed,” De Jesus said. The damage is effectively permanent.
De Jesus also raised concerns about flooding. Laguna de Bay is essentially a basin fed by surrounding rivers. When you put land into the lake, the water has to go somewhere else. “Imagine you have a basin, then you put in land, it will overflow, right? So that’s another hazard, flooding,” she said. During typhoon season, the risk becomes more acute. The problem is compounded by the fact that reclamation has also cut off some fisherfolk from direct access to the lake, isolating homes that once stood by the water. Some residents used to grow vegetation along the lakeshore, Hicap said — a practice that has become impossible in many areas. The broader issue of how pollution worsens flooding in Filipino communities is explored in detail in our article on Filipino floods spoiled by pollution.
Why reclamation persists despite the risks
Given the documented harm, one might wonder why reclamation continues. Liza Osorio, an environmental lawyer from Oceana, told Philstar.com that the driving force is simple: developers want more land. Dumping land on water is often cheaper than acquiring vast urban property and navigating the permitting process for land development. But there is a critical legal nuance that often gets overlooked.
→ Scroll right to see all columns
| Factor | What It Means | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of land | Reclaiming water is cheaper than buying urban property | Encourages more reclamation projects |
| Legal status | Reclaimed land remains public property | Does not automatically become private, but enforcement is weak |
| Environmental assessments | Often become procedural requirements | Outdated 1978 law does not account for climate impacts |
| Permitting system | Flawed and fragmented | Multiple agencies involved, unclear accountability |
Osorio pointed out that reclaimed land does not automatically become private property — it still belongs to the public. While reclamation can be legal, she described it as unsustainable. The permitting system itself is flawed. Developers are required to submit environmental impact assessments, but these often become procedural requirements rather than meaningful evaluations. “It’s not an honest-to-goodness assessment of environmental impacts because our law is outdated, it’s from 1978,” Osorio told Philstar.com. “Although we have recent regulations, these regulations and laws don’t take into account climate impacts, for instance.”
The role of the Laguna Lake Development Authority
The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) is the singular agency tasked with protecting the lake and has sole jurisdiction over its regulation. LLDA General Manager Leopoldo Parumog told Philstar.com that the agency has intervened in several reclamation projects, including some linked to the Taguig local government. The agency has also had issues with smaller reclamation projects by landowners along the lakeshore. While the LLDA does not issue reclamation permits, developers must secure approval for any construction affecting the lake. Parumog said illegal reclamation would face stiff fines, though he downplayed concerns about reclamation overall. This tension between regulatory authority and on-the-ground reality is a recurring theme in Philippine environmental governance, similar to the challenges faced by trash troubles that plague Filipino landfills.
What can be done about reclamation in Laguna de Bay
For those who live and work around the lake, the situation can feel overwhelming. But there are concrete actions that communities, local governments, and regulators can take — and some are already underway.
Strengthen environmental impact assessments
The current legal framework for environmental impact assessments dates back to 1978. Osorio from Oceana argues that these assessments need to be updated to account for climate impacts, cumulative effects of multiple projects, and long-term ecological consequences. Developers should be required to submit assessments that are independently reviewed, not merely filed as paperwork. For communities, this means attending public consultations and submitting comments when new projects are proposed — a process that requires vigilance but can influence outcomes.
Enforce the suspension of reclamation
The government has suspended reclamation in Laguna de Bay for now, but enforcement remains uneven. Satellite imagery shows that apparent reclamation activity has continued in some areas. Citizens can report suspected illegal reclamation to the LLDA or the Philippine Reclamation Authority. Documentation — including photographs, location coordinates, and dates — strengthens complaints. The LLDA has stated that illegal reclamation would face stiff fines, but reporting is the first step that often gets overlooked.
Support alternative livelihoods for affected fisherfolk
Many fisherfolk like Ramonito Domingo have seen their catches decline sharply. Some have already left the area. Local government units can invest in alternative livelihood programs — such as aquaculture in controlled environments, lake-based tourism, or skills training for other industries. These programs need to be designed with input from fisherfolk themselves, not imposed from above. The PAMALAKAYA group, which represents many affected fishers, can be a channel for such initiatives.
Address the trash dumping practice
Hicap’s account of truckloads of trash being dumped into the lake and covered with soil points to a practice that is both illegal and environmentally catastrophic. This is not reclamation in the technical sense — it is illegal dumping disguised as development. Local governments that welcomed this practice to reduce pressure on dumpsites need alternative waste management solutions. The broader issue of waste management in the Philippines is closely tied to using education to combat pollution in schools, where awareness and proper disposal habits can be cultivated early.
Frequently asked questions about Laguna de Bay reclamation
Is all reclamation in Laguna de Bay illegal? ▾
Who regulates Laguna de Bay? ▾
How does reclamation affect fish populations? ▾
Can reclaimed land become private property? ▾
What are the flood risks from reclamation? ▾
What can ordinary citizens do about reclamation? ▾
What to watch for next
The suspension of reclamation in Laguna de Bay is a step, but it is not a solution. The cumulative impact of projects in recent years remains largely unreported, and satellite imagery suggests that shoreline extensions have continued in some areas. For those who depend on the lake — fishers, residents, and communities — the question is whether regulatory agencies can match the pace and scale of development with meaningful enforcement. The coming years will show whether the LLDA’s interventions and the updated legal frameworks that environmental lawyers are calling for can turn the tide. If this was useful, you might also want to read how rising temperatures worsen Philippine environmental issues.
Sources
Filipino cities are getting hotter from pollution — Explores how urban heat islands compound environmental stress in densely populated areas.
Reclamation is altering Laguna de Bay’s shores, and lives that rely on it. Philstar.com, 2026.
