Don't sink our future; reclamation does not save us from flooding

Reclamation has often been framed as a hallmark of modernization—an ambitious undertaking to expand coastlines, stimulate commerce, and create new urban spaces.

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Yet the scientific record and the actual experiences of coastal communities point to a starkly different reality. Reclamation is not a deterrent to flooding. It is among its most potent drivers.

And the recent claim of the Philippine Reclamation Authority that reclamation mitigates flooding must be examined thoroughly. Unfortunately, it collapses under scientific scrutiny. Even the most fundamental physical law—the Archimedes principle—refutes such an assertion. The moment massive volumes of fill materials are dumped into coastal waters, the displaced water must move. With no additional basin to receive it, that water is forced to flow to our communities, and nowhere else. The effect is predictable: elevated water levels, intensified storm surges, and longer-lasting floods in adjacent communities.