Manila Bay opens to public on Saturday, Sept. 19, for clean-up drive

The Manila Bay will be temporarily opened to the public on Saturday, September 19, for the International Coastal Clean-up Day, according to Tina Panganiban-Perez’s report on “24 Oras.”

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will also conduct an inspection along Manila Bay to be led by Secretary Roy Cimatu.

The Phase 1 of the Manila Bay white sand project is expected to be completed on Saturday.

Earlier, the DENR said it is accelerating the dumping of synthetic white sand along the shores of Manila Bay for the clean-up day.

DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said among those who will participate in the ICC are Cimatu, and officials from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Metro Manila Development Authority and the Manila City government.

Environmentalists and fisherfolk groups earlier criticized the project, calling it an artificial rehabilitation and a waste of money.

A coalition of environmental advocates is also set to file a petition for writ of kalikasan against the white sand project.

“We need to complete all documentation to file all the information and more importantly, we would like to give the government a chance to rectify its error,” Infrawatch convenor Terry Ridon said.

The writ of kalikasan is a remedy for unlawful actions which violate the right to a balanced and healthful ecology.

Meanwhile, the DENR welcomed the petition. “Dapat nga matagal na nilang ginawa ‘yan,” Antiporda said. -Ma. Angelica Garcia/MDM, GMA News