Ex-DENR chief Cimatu invited in House probe on Dolomite Beach —Ridon

Former Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu will be summoned to attend the House Public Accounts Committee’s probe into the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach Project, panel chairman Rep. Terry Ridon said Saturday.

This was announced by Ridon at a news forum in Quezon City.

“We are announcing today that former Secretary Roy Cimatu will be invited to the proceedings,” the lawmaker said.

Ridon said the confirmed date of the inquiries’ first hearing will be on November 19, 2025.

The lawmaker earlier said that his panel will tackle the Dolomite Beach Project’s necessity based on the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan and the Supreme Court’s Continuing Mandamus for the rehabilitation of Manila Bay.

“He will be asked to explain how the project originated and why he allowed the project to proceed despite it not being part of the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan and despite questions on its consistency with the Supreme Court’s Continuing Mandamus on the rehabilitation of Manila Bay,” Ridon said in a separate statement.

“As DENR Secretary, he had ultimate responsibility for the Manila Bay rehabilitation, including the origination and implementation of the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach project,” he added.

GMA News Online has reached out to Cimatu for comment, but he has yet to reply as of posting time.

During the forum, Ridon said Cimatu “will be subpoenaed” if the former Environment chief fails to attend the proceedings.

The House panel will also look at alternative interventions and solutions to further “clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay,” and improve its water quality to make it fit for swimming, skin-diving, and other forms of contact recreation — the specific requirements under the Supreme Court’s Continuing Mandamus.

Ridon said the following agencies will be invited:

• Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
• Department of Economy, Planning and Development
• Department of Public Works and Highways
• Metro Manila Development Authority 
• City of Manila LGU

Back in July, the Ridon sought a congressional inquiry on the status of the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach Project amid massive flooding in the area during the rainy season.

The artificial Manila Bay Dolomite Beach was built during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2020, The 900-meter long and 60-meter wide beach was later closed for expansion which was completed in 2022. —VAL, GMA Integrated News