Marine conservation group launches online petition vs. Manila Bay white sand project

Environmental group Oceana Philippines on Tuesday launched an online petition to stop the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' Manila Bay “white sand” project.

“We are opposed and we want this project, a useless expenditure of public money, stopped,” Oceana Philippines vice president Gloria Ramos told GMA News.

“Walang environmental impact study na ginawa before they even thought of the project. And it’s ironic kasi the DENR and the EMB [Environmental Management Bureau] is tasked to do that,” she added.

The online petition cites five laws that the project is supposedly violating: Presidential Proclamation 2146, the amended Fisheries Code, the Clean Water Act, the National Cultural Heritage Act, and the Local Government Code.

“Ginawa nila yung illegal acts and there are damages, they can be held liable for that. Meron tayong Code of Ethical Conduct. Puwedeng tingnan ang mga provision doon. So may mga accountability,” Ramos said.

She also warned that local government officials of Manila may also be held liable for allowing the project without issuing a resolution.

“They can be held answerable if they allowed that project. That’s dereliction of duty. Kaya isasama rin namin sa sulat namin, bigyan namin ng position paper ang Ombudsman kasi puwede siyang mag-investigate just sa reports sa newspapers is already ground for the Ombudsman to start investigations,” Ramos explained.

She added that Oceana Philippines is already “preparing for lawsuits.”

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno wished the group “all the best, good health, good luck.”

Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Benny Antiporda expressed confidence that the department would be able to show in court that the project is above board.

“They are welcome to do whatever they want to do, especially on this legal aspect. In the first place, we know that what we are doing is right. They didn’t even show us any concrete evidence that will justify 'yung kanilang grievances kaya I don’t think we will give in to them. We will finish this,” Antiporda told GMA News. — BM, GMA News