'Pagkain hindi buhangin'? DENR says it is doing its part in COVID-19 response

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Wednesday defended its move to push through with the multi-million peso Manila Bay beautification project amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said the project actually started last year and was supposed to be finished last July if it weren't for the delay caused by the pandemic.

He also said the budget used in the project was from last year.

"Itong budget na ito, ito po ay last year pa, last year na-release, last year din na bid-out, and last year pa nag-umpisa yung proyekto," he said.

"Natigil lang ng konti dahil sa pandemic at ngayon po ay tinatapos na dahil delayed na po ito, natapos po dapat ito nitong July," Antiporda added.

DENR recently came under fire over its controversial "white sand" project on Manila Bay, which is part of the overall initiative to beautify the area, with members of the Makabayan Bloc at the House of Representatives even calling for a congressional investigation.

Critics of the project have also questioned the DENR's use of its budget amid the dire economic situation of the country due to the pandemic, which rendered many businesses closed and workers out of jobs.

According to Antiporda, the DENR did its share regarding President Rodrigo Duterte's call for all government agencies to contribute to the fund that will be used in the national government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Antiporda said the DENR gave close to P2 billion from its 2020 budget for the pandemic response initiative and will give P66 million from its 2021 budget.

"So bilyon po ang binigay namin at hindi po namin pinagwalang bahala itong panawagan ng Pangulo," he said. —KBK, GMA News