Group holds protest vs. Manila Bay white sand project

A group of fishermen called Pagkakaisa ng Mga Alyansa ng Mga Mangingisda sa Pilipinas (PANGISDA-Pilipinas) staged a protest action on Monday morning in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) against the Manila Bay “white sand” project.

Pablo Rosales, chairperson of PANGISDA-Pilipinas, said the DENR must be made accountable for violating its mandate to rehabilitate Manila Bay and implementing a project that may harm the said body of water.

“Isa itong parang kataksilan dahil sila mismong nangangasiwa sa ating kalikasan, karagatan ay nangunguna ngayon sa reclamation project na ito,” Rosales said.

“Walang pera para sa mga mangingisdang nanghihingi ng tulong para sa epekto ng pandemya. Pero meron palang kulang na P400 milyon na gagamitin para rito na ipinambili ng dolomite sa Cebu,” he added.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Saturday debunked claims by critics that the Manila Bay "white sand" project could destroy the bay's environment and pose health hazards to people.

Año said in a statement that crushed dolomite is a common material used in beach nourishment in many parts of the country and the world.

Año, who is vice chairman of the Manila Bay Task Force, moreover said "the Department of Health (DOH) has already clearly stated that the dolomite used in Baywalk is bigger than dust, which doesn’t get suspended in air, and therefore is not harmful to people."

Buhay party-list Representative Lito Atienza on Sunday opposed the DENR's initiative to decorate the Manila Bay shoreline with white sand using crushed dolomite rocks from Cebu province.

In a statement, Atienza, who also previously served as Environment Secretary and mayor of Manila for three terms, described the DENR's move as “worthless” and "a complete waste of public funds.”

That portion of Manila Bay with "white sand" has meanwhile been attracting curious onlookers. —KG, GMA News