Makabayan solons seek House probe into DENR ‘white sand’ project along Manila Bay

The House Makabayan bloc is calling for an investigation into the controversial "white sand" project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) along Manila Bay.

The six-member group has filed House Resolution 1194 directing the House of Representatives to conduct an inquiry into the suitability and sustainability to the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program of the dump-filling of the Manila Bay shoreline with crushed dolomite rocks.

READ: Makabayan Bloc seeks House probe into the DENR’s “white sand” project along Manila Bay @gmanews pic.twitter.com/iBQcsSsgnZ

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) September 9, 2020

In their resolution, the Makabayan bloc noted the opposition of concerned members of the public to the project, as well as its impact in the environment and public health, and the "injudicious" utilization of public funds.

They pointed out that several civil and environmental organizations such as the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas, Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment, Oceana, and Greenpeace have expressed concern over the project, noting its applicability and impact on the marine wildlife and natural ecosystem of Manila Bay.

The lawmakers also cited the opinion of some members of the academe like Professor Mahar Lagmay of the University of the Philippines (UP) Resilience Institute who questioned the sustainability of the project and its cost.

At the same time, the Makabayan bloc cited reports quoting Atty. Jay Batongbacal of the UP Institute of Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea as also raising the public health hazard of dolomite, resulting in respiratory issues and a potential carcinogen.

Batongbacal had also 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 undertaking.

The lawmakers also raised the concern of various groups on the utilization of the P389 million funding for the project, which they said "could be better used for genuine and more productive component projects such as mangrove reforestation in the Manila Bay."

DENR defends project

During the budget hearing on Tuesday, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu defended their initiative to decorate the Manila Bay shoreline with white sand using crushed dolomite rocks.

He said 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.

He added that 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.

Dolomite rocks can also treat the pH level of water, from acidic to alkaline, Cimatu said.

He also disputed claims that crushed dolomite rocks are harmful when inhaled, explaining that only fine silica quartz in some dolomite in the form dust generated during crushing and screening is hazardous.

"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.

Meanwhile, 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.

Cimatu added their source of funding was a special purpose fund under the 2019 General Appropriations Act intended for the rehabilitation of Manila Bay. — RSJ, GMA News