Reefs damaged in Cebu allegedly due to dolomite transport

The extraction of dolomite rocks from Cebu's Alcoy town allegedly damaged the local marine ecosystem, a non-government organization claimed.

In Tina Panganiban-Perez’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, Knight Stewards of the Sea Secretary William Villaver said the crushed dolomite spilled into the sea during its transfer to vessels and caused sedimentation on the coral reefs.

“Kasi ‘yong corals nabubuhay ‘yan, nangangailangan sila ng sinag ng araw. ‘Pag matakpan ‘yong sinag ng araw by sediments in that area, maraming dust from the dolomite, matakpan ‘yong araw so ma-less ang light penetrating to the corals kaya namamatay sila in the long run,” Villaver explained.

Aside from the marine ecosystem, the mountains where the dolomite rocks were extracted were fractured.

The Cebu Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, meanwhile, said it was investigating the effects of dolomite extraction.

“We already conducted our assessment a few weeks ago and then we presented the results to the governor and now we will validate our findings,” PENRO officer-in-charge Rodel Bontuyan said.

GMA News had sought comment from Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu on the matter, but he had yet to respond as of posting time.

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

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources placed 500 tons of crushed dolomite to beautify and rehabilitate a stretch of Manila Bay’s shoreline close to the Baywalk strip along Roxas Boulevard.

The dolomite used to beautify the coastline of Manila Bay was not a health hazard in its bulk state, the Department of Health (DOH) had clarified amid warnings by some sectors that crushed dolomite could pose respiratory risks. — Angelica Garcia/DVM, GMA News