DENR OIC Sampulna to continue Manila Bay dolomite beach project

The interim chief of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has committed to continuing the programs of former Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, including the controversial Manila Bay dolomite beach project.

In a statement on Saturday, DENR officer-in-charge Jim Sampulna said that he would continue the agency’s priority projects “as a commitment to President Duterte.”

"We can now see the beauty of Manila Bay. Maybe only around 500-600 meters of the Manila Bay is yet to be laid down with dolomite sand. I intend to continue that project because that is our commitment to our dear President," Sampulna said.

Sampulna was appointed OIC of the DENR after Cimatu stepped down last week due to health reasons.

The DENR OIC said Cimatu's initiatives made a huge impact on the Filipino people and "I intend to continue what he has started.”

"What I can commit is, our initiatives in the next four months, we will do these for the benefit of the Filipino people," Sampulna added.

He said the Boracay rehabilitation project would be continued under his term.

Sampulna, who was the undersecretary for attached agencies, mining, and Muslim affairs before taking charge of the DENR, also clarified the issue of open-pit mining in relation to the lifting of the ban through Executive Order 130.

"It is in the law that open-pit mining is allowed. However, we have policies and guidelines on conducting open-pit mining which should be clear and followed," he said.

"There are misnomers that if it is open-pit, then it is destructive. But even prior to the start of the project, there is already a plan for rehabilitation where the degree of damage to the environment has already been measured… it will be restored after their operation," he added.

The national government, neighboring mining villages, and the "very strict" Mining Industry Coordinating Council, he said, are all constantly monitoring mining operations.

On the issue of banning single-use plastic, Sampulna noted that the DENR has been advocating for it.

"We need some legislation for that (ban on single-use plastic). Although there is no legislation on that yet, we are already advocating for it," he said.

"I am pushing to ban single-use plastic because it is harmful to the environment."

Sampulna also urged candidates in the May 2022 elections to refrain from nailing campaign materials to trees.

He asked the public not to vote for candidates who "destroy the environment." — VBL, GMA News