The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) is a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) under the Office of the President of the Philippines, tasked with overseeing land reclamation nationwide. It originated in 1977 (as the Public Estates Authority) to coordinate and execute reclamation projects in support of national development. The PRA’s mandate is to expand usable land for communities and industries, converting coastal and underutilized areas into economically productive sites. By doing so, it helps attract investment and generate income through leasing or selling the new land assets, aligning with the government’s development goals, serving both regulatory and commercial functions: it regulates reclamation policies while also undertaking its own development projects to promote infrastructure, housing, and public estates.
Historically, the PRA (originally the Public Estates Authority, PEA) was created by Presidential Decree No. 1084 in 1977 to provide a centralized, coordinated approach to land reclamation. It was designed as such to ensure efficient reclamation that maximizes public welfare, as part of then-President Marcos’s City of Manila (Bay City) project. Over the years, the agency has expanded beyond regulation into direct development, partnering with both government and private entities. In 2006, by Executive Order No. 380-A, it was formally renamed the Philippine Reclamation Authority (from Public Estates Authority), with its non-reclamation assets transferred out so it could focus on reclamation and related projects. Today, PRA is recognized for its role in shaping the nation’s coastlines and urban spaces through planned reclamation, infrastructure, and property development.
History
The PRA was established on February 4, 1977 by Presidential Decree No. 1084, which created the Public Estates Authority (PEA) to manage government lands and lead all reclamation projects. In 1979, Executive Order 525 formally designated PEA as the primary agency to integrate, direct, and coordinate all reclamation efforts for the national government. Over time, the agency’s oversight shifted among departments (Public Works, Finance, etc.), but it remained focused on land reclamation and development. In 2006, President Arroyo issued EO 380-A renaming PEA to the Philippine Reclamation Authority while preserving its charter powers. Subsequent orders have placed PRA under the Office of the President and delegated to its Governing Board the power to approve reclamation projects (formerly reserved to the President). Thus, while its name and attachments evolved, PRA’s core function as the clearinghouse for reclamation remained.
Logo
The PRA’s official seal is circular, with a blue arc over a set of stylized yellow-gold bars and waves. The blue likely represents the surrounding water, while the golden yellow suggests reclaimed land and its value. The logo’s design emphasizes the interconnection of sea and land – the blue upper band over golden layers evokes both the horizon and layered earth. In public descriptions, the colors blue and gold are said to symbolize water and the high value of reclaimed land, respectively. The overall theme of the seal reflects PRA’s mission of sustainable coastal development and reclamation (blue for the sea, gold for productive land).
Mission
According to its corporate statements, the PRA’s official mission is:
“We are the lead government instrumentality mandated to regulate reclamation, create environmentally sustainable reclaimed land, promote coastal resilience, and develop government properties to advance the country’s development goals.”
Vision
PRA’s official vision is:
“In 2040, the Filipino people shall benefit from well-planned and environmentally resilient reclaimed lands and efficiently developed and managed public estates.”
Core Values
Its core values (often stylized by the acronym PREAPER) guide its culture and practices. They are:
- Professionalism and Teamwork: Upholding high standards, integrity and collaboration in service.
- Respect for the Environment: Caring for natural ecosystems in all projects.
- Accountability: Being answerable for decisions and outcomes.
- Responsive to Society’s Needs: Acting with concern for communities and stakeholders.
- Excellence: Pursuing quality and continuous improvement.
- Adaptable: Embracing change and innovation in methods.
- Partnership-driven: Cooperating with other agencies and the private sector for shared goals.
Quality Policy
PRA’s Quality Policy is formally stated as:
“We at Philippine Reclamation Authority commit to provide quality public service in the creation of well-planned and environmentally sustainable reclaimed lands, promotion of coastal protection and resilience, and efficient management of government properties for the benefit of the Filipino people.”
The policy continues that PRA also affirms its commitment to implement and sustain an ISO 9001-certified quality management system. In essence, PRA pledges to excel in all its tasks – planning reclamation, protecting coasts, and managing estates – through clear standards and continuous improvement, as part of its service to the public.
Mandate
By law, the agency has three core mandates:
- Regulatory & Proprietary Land Reclamation: It regulates all reclamation projects nationwide and also undertakes reclamation on its own.
- Infrastructure Development: It plans and develops infrastructure (roads, bridges, utilities, etc.) on reclaimed lands or for government use.
- Public Estates Development & Management: It develops, manages, and disposes of government lands and properties (including those from reclamation).
Powers and Functions
Under its charter (PD 1084 as amended) and presidential orders, PRA has broad powers related to reclamation and land development. Key functions include:
- Advising the President on reclamation plans and policies to maximize national development.
- Issuing rules and regulations for evaluating and administering reclamation projects.
- Coordinating with other agencies and monitoring the progress of reclamation endeavors.
- Owning and managing reclaimed lands: By law, all lands reclaimed under PRA’s authority belong to PRA, which then develops, leases or sells them.
- Land development and disposal: It can convert idle public lands into valuable estates (such as housing, parks, or commerce).
- Entering contracts and financial arrangements: PRA can enter into joint ventures, loan agreements, or other contracts with government or private partners. This effectively allows PRA to provide financial assistance (loans or funding) for projects it undertakes.
- Eminent domain: PRA has the authority to acquire land for reclamation in the name of the government.
- Issuing permits: It authorizes reclamation projects by other entities (on behalf of the government) under the rules of public bidding.
Organizational Structure
PRA is governed by a President-appointed Governing Board (Board of Directors) chaired by a lawyer or engineer, and led operationally by a General Manager/CEO. It functions as a Charter GOCC attached to the Office of the President. The organization has departments and units handling technical planning, legal affairs, finance, engineering, estates, etc. In carrying out its mandate, PRA coordinates closely with the following key government bodies:
- National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA),
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
- Department of Finance (DOF) and works with others such as
- Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH),
- Department of Transportation (DOTr),
- Department of Science and Technology (DOST),
- Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA),
- Local Government Units, and
- Other private partners to integrate reclamation projects into broader development plans.
Benefit
PRA’s reclamation and development activities yield several benefits for the Philippines.
- By creating new land in urban or coastal areas, it expands space for housing, commerce, ports and industry – fueling economic growth.
- For example, the conversion of Manila Bay’s Bay City (660 hectares) into an entertainment and business district generated significant investment.
- More generally, PRA projects turn under-utilized shoreline areas into income-generating assets for the government.
- The fees, leases and sales from these projects produce revenue (making PRA self-sustaining) and help fund other public needs.
- Moreover, by drawing both local and foreign investment into reclamation ventures, PRA supports broader economic development. Infrastructure built by PRA (roads, flood controls, public buildings) also enhances connectivity and resilience.
In short, PRA helps the nation benefit from its coastlines – creating economic opportunities, relieving urban density, and adding value to government lands.
Coverage
PRA has national jurisdiction. By law, any large-scale reclamation in the Philippines must be cleared and coordinated by PRA. In practice, most of its major projects have been in Luzon, especially Metro Manila.
- A flagship example is Bay City (Manila Bay Freeport Zone) – a 660-hectare reclamation completed in the 1980s through PRA’s leadership.
- In recent decades PRA approved or oversaw Manila Bay projects such as:
- Horizon Manila,
- Manila Waterfront City,
- SM Mall of Asia expansions (Pasay Harbor City), and
- the Navotas Coastal Bay Reclamation.
These projects illustrate its role in the National Capital Region. However, PRA’s mandate extends to the entire archipelago.
- Any proposed reclamation in Visayas or Mindanao (for example, bay reclamations in Cebu or Davao) would similarly require PRA’s approval.
- The agency also engages with provinces for coastal development; for instance, PRA provided relief and planning assistance to Batangas coastal communities after Typhoon Kristine in 2024, reflecting its outreach beyond Metro Manila.
Programs and Services
Its programs focus on implementing its mandates through concrete projects and services:
- Reclamation Projects: PRA originates or partners in large reclamation ventures, often under public-private partnerships. It identifies priority sites (such as estuarine bays or foreshore areas) and facilitates detailed planning and environmental compliance. Current initiatives include planning new reclamation zones for urban growth, as well as improving existing ones.
- Land Development: Once reclamation is done, PRA develops the land for its planned use. This may involve building roads, drainage, parks, and utilities. PRA also constructs facilities on reclaimed land for government use (e.g. offices, courts, or housing). In effect, it acts as a land developer and project manager for government estates.
- Infrastructure Construction: PRA undertakes infrastructure on both reclaimed and existing public lands. This includes roads, bridges, and flood-control works that serve the new lands. It also finances or assists in building public buildings; for example, PRA has provided funding or land for schools and hospitals under government land development programs.
- Financial Assistance/Loans: Through its charter power to enter into contracts and loans, PRA can offer financing packages or extend credit to reclamation projects it endorses. This “financial assistance” role helps prime projects that serve public welfare, making development more feasible for partners.
- Regulatory Oversight: PRA maintains an oversight program to monitor all reclamation activities. It regularly inspects authorized projects, ensuring compliance with plans and environmental rules. It also surveys possible sources of fill material and studies new techniques (e.g. dredging improvements). Unauthorized or illegal reclamations are subject to its enforcement – PRA actively identifies and penalizes such cases to protect ecosystems and uphold the law.
- Disaster Resilience & Coastal Protection: Recognizing the impacts of typhoons and sea-level rise, PRA has a growing program on coastal resilience. It collaborates on designing hard and soft protective structures (like seawalls and mangrove rehabilitation) that are adaptive to climate change. Notably, PRA helped craft master plans for coastal defenses in Tacloban City and Palo, Leyte, after Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). These plans aim to minimize the effects of storms on vulnerable communities.
- Community Development: PRA also runs community programs linked to its projects. For example, it engages in land redistribution for informal settler families in reclamation areas, providing titling and relocation assistance. (Such programs often partner with local governments.) PRA’s outreach includes livelihood training and social services for communities affected by development.
Through these programs, PRA delivers services that go beyond land-filling: it builds infrastructure, provides funding support, safeguards the environment, and strengthens disaster defenses – all part of its mission to create sustainable reclaimed lands.
Video: PRA Future Plans
The Philippine Reclamation Authority is a government agency designed to drive land reclamation and development in the Philippines. As a GOCC, it integrates policy-making and execution: regulating reclamation projects and also actively creating new land and infrastructure for development. Over the years PRA has converted coastal waters into productive real estate (for example, Bay City in Manila), generated new income streams, and supported urban expansion. By attracting investments and building essential infrastructure, PRA helps expand the economy and create jobs. Its emphasis on environmental sustainability and resilience – seen in projects like the Tacloban coastal plan – means these benefits are intended to last in the face of climate risks. To learn more about these things, you may check out this video from ANC 24/7:
Contact Information
Overall, PRA’s contributions help modernize the country’s urban landscapes and align reclaimed land use with national growth goals, bringing tangible value to Filipino communities and the government alike.For other questions or inquiries, you may contact PRA via the following channels:
PRA (Philippine Reclamation Authority)
- Main Office Address: 6th to 9th Floor, Legaspi Towers 200 Bldg., 107 Paseo de Roxas St., Legaspi Village, 1226 Makati City
- Contact Number: (+632) 8459-5000 (PRA Trunk Line)
- Email Address: hotline8888@pea.gov.ph (PRA Hotline)
- Official Website: https://www.pea.gov.ph
- Social Media: