AMID ULYSSES ONSLAUGHT

'Dolomite lang ang matatag,' DENR exec says in deleted post

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Benny Antiporda on Thursday posted and deleted a dispatch from the agency's controversial "white beach" project along Roxas Boulevard amid the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses.

"Dolomite lang ang matatag," he wrote as part of the caption in the post, along with several pictures including one along with MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago.

Antiporda previously made headlines when he bristled at criticism for the dolomite project and lashed out at University of the Philippines scientists for sharing their negative opinion of the DENR initiative.

Overnight rains brought on by Ulysses caused widespread flooding in many parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila.

In Marikina City and nearby Rizal towns of San Mateo, Rodriguez, and Montalban, residents have had to flee to the second floors or roofs of their homes as floodwaters rose steadily.

Similar flooding has been reported in other areas including Noveleta, Cavite and Marilao Bulacan.

"Dolomite" and "Manila Bay" were trending topics on Twitter on Thursday even before Antiporda's post.

Pialago, for her part, said people should focus on the government’s efforts in helping Filipinos.

She said the photo with Antiporda was taken when they both inspected Roxas Boulevard on Thursday to check the status of roads amid the typhoon.

“Mainam pong mapagtuunan sana ng pansin lahat ng efforts ng gobyerno sa pagtulong po sa ating mga kababayan,” Pialago said in a Facebook post.

“Mas expert po ang DENR na maipaliwanag ang lahat ng patungkol sa dolomite,” she added.

Further, Pialago said she and Antiporda are in Marikina, helping affected residents.

“Tuloy tuloy lang ang pag responde dahil maraming Pilipino ang nangangailangan ng tulong sa mga oras na ito,” she said.

In an earlier Facebook update, Antiporda posted pictures of the DENR's clearing efforts in the wake of Ulysses. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/JST, GMA News