Batongbacal: No provision in Manila Bay enviro plan to turn beaches white

The director of the UP Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea on Monday said that critics of the Manila Bay “white sand” project may file a writ of kalikasan before the Supreme Court in order to stop the project.

“I’ve seen the Manila Bay Environmental Management Plan upon which this cleanup is supposed to be undertaken. That is the reason for the mandamus issued by the Supreme Court. We really cannot find anywhere in that plan a provision for turning Manila Bay’s beaches white,” Dr. Jay Batongbacal told GMA News.

“What they’re doing is not cleaning up the bay. It’s just covering up the beach. So that does not address the real cause of the pollution in the bay,” he added.

“Writ of Kalikasan is one of the remedies available under the Supreme Court’s special rule on environmental cases. It can be used as like a temporary restraining order or a writ of mandamus,” he also said.

Environmental groups are already mulling this option against the DENR project, which aims to cover up Manila Bay's baywalk with "white sand" made from crushed dolomite. 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources hopes to have the project completed by September 19, International Coastal Clean-up Day.

The DENR has defended the project by saying that the white sand will stop people from throwing trash on the beach. Palace spokesperson Harry Roque, meanwhile, said that the project will help prevent floods and erosion.

Batongbacal said any taxpayer or any citizen may seek the Supreme Court’s intervention if he or she feels that he or she may be affected by the project.

Batongbacal also mentioned that there were studies abroad saying that dolomites may be harmful to people’s health.

The Department of Health, in fact, said that inhalation of the crushed rock can cause respiratory issues.  — BM, GMA News