DENR orders new study on safety of dolomite rocks amid Manila Bay issue

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Thursday ordered the conduct of another study to determine if crushed dolomite rocks are safe or not.

Crushed dolomite rocks are being used for the Manila Bay nourishment project that the DENR hopes to complete by September 19, 2020.

“Para lang ma-satisfy natin ang taongbayan, immediately nagpakuha na tayo ng samplings doon. And siguro within one or two weeks, matapos po yan,” DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda told GMA News.

Antiporda also said that a study on dolomite rockcs was also conducted last year.

The study, he said, showed that the dolomite rocks that the DENR is using do not contain hamrful heavy metals as claimed by critics of the project, which include among them a toxicologist.

“We required the contractor already to give us the analysis of the source of the dolostones. And this result was made by a third party. Nothing to worry about ang taongbayan. Third party gumawa nito. And walang heavy metal content,” Antiporda said.

Environmental group Oceana, on the other hand, expressed willingness to collect dolomite samples from Manila Bay and have them tested.

“Hingi muna tayo ng request sa government kung i-allow tayong mag-gather ng samples. But test, Department of Health should do it,” Oceana Vice President Atty. Gloria Ramos said in a webinar on Thursday.

Dr. Rommy Quijano, a toxicologist, said dolomite rocks may release heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, zinc, and cadmium, which can lead to diseases affecting the nervous and immune systems like lupus. —KBK, GMA News