MANILA BAY FACELIFT

Scientists ask DENR to release assessment on dolomite beach

A group of scientists on Wednesday called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to release an environmental impact screening (EIS) on the dolomite project in Manila Bay.

In a statement, AGHAM-Advocates of Science and Technology for the People said that a Writ of Kalikasan may be petitioned against the project if the DENR refused to conduct the EIS.

“With plans to extend the area of the overlay project, it is incumbent upon the DENR to tap these resources and publicly release an EIS before expanding,” AGHAM said.

“Otherwise, a Writ of Kalikasan, which is another special civil action on environmental cases, may be petitioned, particularly to motion for discovery measures such as an ocular inspection or production of documents,” it added.

The writ of kalikasan is a remedy for unlawful actions that violate the right to a balanced and healthful ecology.

In a press conference, Dr. Caroline Jaraula  from UP Marine Science Institute’s (UPMSI) said the “impact of dolomite on fisheries and marine habitats should be examined.”

DENR - Environment Management Bureau director William Cuñado in 2020 said that a certificate of non-coverage for EIS was issued for the Manila Bay project.

AGHAM recently published a paper on its assessment on the DENR project.

The paper “emphasizes the importance of impact assessments and stakeholder engagement in project design and implementation.”

It also cites “the wealth of information on Manila Bay from years of research, especially by the DENR’s own agencies” as “sufficient for an analysis with little marginal cost for assessment.”

AGHAM Diliman’s Tara Abrina presented data showing that the natural sediments movements in Manila Bay will affect the dolomite overlay and that the coastal hazards might hasten the dispersal of the sand.

Abrina also pointed out that the water quality on Manila Bay, particularly on the Roxas Boulevard portion, is still below the target of the Mandamus ruling.

AGHAM’s paper concluded that the short term and temporary nature of beach nourishment as coastal protection must be weighed against its costs.

It pointed out that the DENR shifted priority and resources to tourism resources from the Mandamus and Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan water quality and waste targets.

The group said the dolomite project is still subject to assessment.

In 2020, environmental groups also said it was also considering filing  a writ of kalikasan to stop the dolomite project. —LBG, GMA News