DENR officials say all concerned agencies, experts consulted for Manila Bay white sand project

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) consulted all concerned agencies and experts before starting the white sand project at the Manila Bay, its officials said on Thursday.

Asked if the DENR sought the opinion of experts on health, tourism, and historic heritage protection for the project,  Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said that they have their own experts.

“Just like the non-government organizations. We have our own experts also in DENR even in the governments as a whole,” Antiporda said.

He told GMA News Online that the DENR has marine biologists and geologists whom they consulted before approving to cover the Manila Bay shoreline with artificial white sand, which is dolomite.

“May Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) kami. May Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau. Meron din kaming Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB). Kumpleto naman,” he said.

DENR-EMB Director William Cuñado told GMA News Online that all of the projects of the department undergo consultation.

“I understand that everything what we are doing undergoes consultation,” Cuñado said.

The DENR is planning to fill 500 meters of the Baywalk on Roxas Boulevard with white sand under the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program.

Environmentalists, fisherfolk groups, and experts earlier criticized the DENR’s project, calling it an artificial rehabilitation, waste of money, and hazardous to health.

However, Cuñado said that DENR has the best people to assess the project. He noted that the DENR already tapped a third party company to analyze the composition of the dolomites for Manila Bay.

“The DENR is the best people who can say that this is a good one or not a good one,” he said.

“If all these people giving comments, if they care about the environment, we care more on the environment because that’s our work,” he added.

DENR-MGB Director Wilfredo Moncano told GMA News Online that more than 10 government agencies are involved in discussing, preparing, and studying projects for the rehabilitation of the Manila Bay.

“What I know is that the Inter-Agency were all members of the Mandamus Agencies or those ordered by the Supreme Court to clean Manila Bay,” Moncano said.

“These groups represented by their personnel were the ones who discussed, prepared, and did the study,” he added.

Moncano said that the MGB is also part of the Inter-Agency Committee for the Rehabilitation of Manila Bay.

A writ of continuing Mandamus was issued by the Supreme Court on December 18, 2008 directing the following government agencies to spearhead the rehabilitation, clean-up, and eventual preservation of Manila Bay:

• Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
• Department of Environment and Natural Resources
• Department of Education
• Department of Health
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Public Works and Highways
• Local Water Utilities Administration
• Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System
• Philippine Ports Authority
• Department of Budget and Management
• Philippine Coast Guard
• Philippine National Police Maritime Group
• Department of the Interior and Local Government

— BM, GMA News