Cimatu defends use of crushed dolomite rocks along Manila Bay shoreline

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu on Tuesday defended the initiative of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to decorate the Manila Bay shoreline with white sand using crushed dolomite rocks from Cebu province.

During the House panel deliberations on the proposed 2021 budget of the DENR, Cimatu addressed the issues surrounding the use of dolomite rocks to beautify the Manila Bay shoreline, which drew ire from members of the public.

According to Cimatu, the effort to rehabilitate Manila Bay was in response to the mandamus issued by the Supreme Court to the government to clean up the body of water.

"So ito ang ginagawa natin ngayon, nilinisan, binawasan natin yung water quality na masama diyan dahil sa paglagay natin ng treatment plant diyan sa baywalk," he said.

Cimatu said it was not the first time that crushed dolomite rocks will be used for decorative purposes, as it was also the same material found in many resorts like in Mactan, Cebu.

He added that dolomite rocks can also treat the pH level of water, from acidic to alkaline.

At the same time, Cimatu also disputed claims that crushed dolomite rocks are harmful when inhaled.

"What is hazardous is the fine silica quartz in some dolomite in the form of dust that is generated during crushing and screening, not the calcium or magnesium. Note that it is dust-size which is about 10 to 15 microns that is hazardous if inhaled for long periods of exposure without personal protective equipment," he said.

"However, the size of the dolomite in Baywalk is 2 to 5 millimeters or equivalent to 2,000 to 5,000 microns or 100 times bigger than dust and therefore not suspended in air and cannot be inhaled," he added.

With regards to the expenses, Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones pointed out that only P28 million of the P389 million allocation for the beach nourishment project was used for the dolomite rocks.

"That covers the price of dolomite sand, transportation cost, taxes, and other fees. Kasi package na delivery nun from Cebu to Manila Bay," he said.

Cimatu said their source of funding was a special purpose fund under the 2019 General Appropriations Act intended for the rehabilitation of Manila Bay.

"Meron ding component sa 2020 pero iba na yung paggagamitan nun sa 2020. Continuous ito dahil ito multi-year ito. Sa akin nga, baka hindi pa natin matapos in two years ito dahil maraming component diyan," he said.

Cimatu assured lawmakers of the safety of the use of crushed dolomite rocks along the Manila Bay shoreline.

"We are really very sure of the safety of the use of dolomite in that area," he said. — DVM, GMA News