Nancy Binay wants suspension of ‘white sand’ dumping along Manila Bay

Senate Committee on Tourism chairperson Nancy Binay on Monday said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) should suspend dumping synthetic white sand along the shores of Manila Bay.

"Yung paglalagay ng dolomite as a substitute for white sand only means na hindi dumaan sa tamang proseso at pag-aaral ang plano sa Manila Bay rehabilitation. Walang public consultation, walang environmental clearance, hilaw ang Environmental Impact Assessment/Environmental Impact Statement, at malinaw na bara-bara at di comprehensive ang plano," Binay said in a statement.

She said the public deserves full disclosure of the environment and public health impact of the project.

Binay's appeal came after the Department of Health warned that inhalation of crushed dolomite rock—the material used as white sand in the beach nourishment project—can cause respiratory problems, among other health issues.

The DENR-Mines and Geoscience Bureau Region 7 said dust from crushed dolomite rocks poses health risks but is not toxic.

Further, Binay lamented that DENR should have prioritized improving the water quality in Manila Bay instead of adorning it with white sand.

"Bago sana ang mga palamuti, dapat unahin muna ng DENR ang pagsasaayos ng water quality ng Manila Bay. Nakakalungkot lang, kaysa sa i-prioritize ayusin ang mga banyo sa Baseco, mas inuna pang pondohan ang puting buhangin galing Cebu," she said.

Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said the public would refrain from dumping wastes in Manila Bay if they see white sand along its shore.

He said the water quality in Manila Bay has significantly improved  from having 1.3 billion of coliform per 100 milliliter of water to 700 coliform per 100 milliliter of water.

"Ang target po is 200 coliform per 100 milliliter by the end of the year para maging safe po ito sa ating mga kababayan sakali pong lumangoy sila diyan," he added.

'Pera na naging buhangin pa'

Some minority senators also opposed the said project, saying this is inapt amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Hindi katanggap-tanggap na habang nagugutom ang mga kababayan natin, walang hanapbuhay ang mga magulang, at walang kagamitan ang mga anak para sa online classes, ay nagtatapon lang tayo ng pera sa mga proyektong maaaring makasira pa sa kalikasan at sa ating kalusugan," Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said.

“Pera na, naging buhangin pa,” he added.

Pangilinan said the almost P400-million worth white sand project could have instead been used to buy 189,000 sacks of rice, to provide WiFi connection to 55,000 students, to buy over 130 million face masks, or 300,000 UP-developed test kits, among others.

But Antiporda said the funds were already allocated last year, before the pandemic.

“Matagal na po itong project na ito. Last year pa ito. Hindi po ito ngayong pandemic lang. Na-allocate na po yung funds niyan and naumpisahan na po yan last year pa. Yung silt removal nag-umpisa po yan, yung pagtanggal ng burak sa ilalim,” he said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros also questioned presidential spokesperson Harry Roque's claim that the white sand along Manila bay will positively impact the mental well-being of Filipinos.

"Kung seryoso talaga tayo sa mental health ng mga Pilipino, siguraduhin natin na may balik-ligtas na trabaho ang mga tao, may maiuuwi silang pagkain para sa kanilang pamilya araw-araw, at maging COVID-free ang lahat," she said in a statement.

She added that the Filipinos' mental health would best be protected if they are confident with the pandemic response of the government.—LDF, GMA News