Dolomite along Manila Bay won't be permanently washed out —DENR

The artificial white sand or crushed dolomite along Manila Bay would not be permanently washed out, an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said Friday.

During the Senate hearing on the agency's proposed P25.5 billion budget for 2021, Senator Imee Marcos asked if the concern on the crushed dolomite being eventually wiped out is valid.

"Ito pong beach nourishment natin, ito po talaga in a regular natural situation talaga namang paalis-alis lang po ang sand doon pero bumabalik-balik din po because of the wave action but kung permanently washed out po palagay ko po hindi naman," DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones said.

He assured that engineering intervention they made by installing "geotubes" will prevent the artificial white sand from being washed away permanently.

"'Ibig sabihin kahit malakas ang [wave] noon doon lang po sa perimeter naglalaro ang sand like the normal beaches po pero 'yung sinasabi po na total wash out? Palagay ko po hindi dahil meron po tayong engineering intervention doon that will prevent strong current in moving away the sand," Leones said.

Marcos asked if the DENR would stop putting dolomite along Manila Bay.

"Kaya lang po natigil 'yun, nagkaroon ng problema sa transaction noong private contractor ng dolomite at saka nagkaroon ng violation yung supplier sa Cebu. Kung magkaroon po talaga ng available na dolomite, we can still continue because we believe that dolomite is an enhancer of the sand," Leones responded.

He added that dredging and water quality improvement will continue.

The beach nourishment project along Manila Bay costs P389 million and P28 million of which were allocated specifically for the crushed dolomite, according to the DENR.

The agency suspended dolomite mining in Cebu in September amid concerns on its environmental impact.

During the hearing, however, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said dolomite is "not hazardous."—LDF, GMA News