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White sand at Manila Bay worth P389M, won't affect ecosystem -DENR

By TINA PANGANIBAN-PEREZ,GMA News

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources today defended from critics its ongoing project to cover the Manila Bay beachfront with “white sand.”

PAMALAKAYA said the project is “useless” because the sand may just be washed away.

The group called for the rehabilitation instead of Manila Bay, including anti-pollution measures for Pasig River and planting more mangroves.

Greenpeace, meanwhile, called for full transparency for the project.

The project costs P389 million, including the clean-up of Manila Bay.

DENR Undersecretary Benny 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,” Antiporda told GMA News.

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“Sa halip na itim yung ilagay sa ibabaw na sand, yung one meter niya is ang nilagay is white sand. Ayon na rin sa ating Sec Roy Cimatu, para namang makita ng ating mga kababayan yung white sand na inaasam-asam nila na hindi nila marating dahil sa mahal nga naman kung pupunta ka pa sa Boracay o sa Palawan o Bohol,” Antiporda added.

He also clarified that the “white sand” is dolomite, a sedimentary rock which, Antiporda said, will not affect Manila Bay’s ecosystem.

“Hindi naman po yan white sand talaga na galing sa coastal sand. Ito po ay dolomite boulders na crinush at ginagamit din naman po ng mga resorts and beaches. Hindi rin yan makaka-disrupt sa ating ecosystem dahil in the first place, ang content po niyan is calcium carbonate. And yung sea corral natin is calcium carbonate din,” Antiporda explained.

The DENR is scheduled to inspect the project on September 19, in time for International Coastal Clean Up Day.

After the inspection, the public may already visit the area.

Antiporda, however, cautioned the public against swimming in Manila Bay because the water’s coliform level is still high.

Coliform is present in human and animal waste. -NB, GMA News