DENR's Antiporda apologizes to UP over 'bayaran' outburst

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Benny Antiporda on Thursday apologized to the University of the Philippines (UP) over his previous day's outburst where he labeled them "bayaran."

In an interview on ANC, Antiporda said he was carried away by his emotions as he was "hurt" by the criticisms on the DENR's "white sand" project in Manila Bay.

“I apologize because talagang natangay po ako ng emotions ko rin kahapon dahil masakit po eh,” Antiporda said, addressing UP Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) director Dr. Laura David.

However, Antiporda said the UP institute could have communicated first with the DENR before presenting its study on Manila Bay to the media in honor of their partnership.

He also still said that the UP-MSI was trying to discredit the DENR with the series of press releases involving the agency’s rehabilitation project in Manila Bay.

“Ang amin po is tuloy-tuloy po ‘yung lumalabas na statement coming from UP-MSI na parang wala na hong tigil ,” Antiporda said.

"Mag-partner tayo eh. Nagbabayad kami sa inyo. Kliyente niyo kami. Bakit niyo ginagawa 'to?” he added.

In a public press briefing on Wednesday, Antiporda slammed UP for allegedly milking public funds since 2016.

In a public briefing, Antiporda made the statement when asked about the offer of UP Diliman Institute of Biology to help in the rehabilitation of Manila Bay.

“Kalahating bilyon ang binayaran sa kanila simula 2016 hanggang taong ito. Kalahating bilyon na puro lang konsultasyon, walang infrastructure. Kalahating bilyon ang binayaran natin sa UP na 'yan,” he said.

On September, the UP-MSI also released a statement presenting a study on the rehabilitation of the Manila Bay and the crushed dolomites.

“Bakit kayo naniningil sa gobyerno? Matapos kayong pag-aralin ng taumbayan, matapos kayong maging iskolar ng taumbayan, sisipsipin niyo ang dugo ng ating kababayan sa dami ng kinuha niyong pondo,” he added.

Antiporda also slammed UP experts for criticizing DENR's project which aims to cover some parts of the shoreline of the Manila Bay with crushed dolomite to achieve the aesthetic of a white sand beach.

“Tapos ngayon, gumagawa kami ng maganda, kailangan magbayad kami sa inyo. Huwag naman,” Antiporda said.

“Hindi niyo karapatan batikusin ito dahil bayaran kayo. ‘Yun lang po ang masasabi ko sa UP. Uulit-ulitin ko: Bayaran kayo,” he snapped.

In a statement, UP-MSI said the DENR paid the institute only around P363 million for the last 10 years, not P500 million as claimed by Antiporda.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, meanwhile, dismissed the row between Antiporda and UP as a "misunderstanding" and offered to mediate.

"So sa akin po siguro hindi lang pagkakaintindihan 'yan. Hayaan niyo po baka kinakailangang mag-mediate ang aking opisina dahil nasa batas naman po iyan na talagang kaakbay ng gobyerno ang UP bilang the national university," he said. —KBK, GMA News