DENR: Dolomite not washed out but covered by ‘black sand’

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Wednesday the crushed dolomite at the Manila Bay coastline was not washed out but was only covered by the thick black sand from the sea.

DENR spokesperson Benny Antiporda said it is a “lie” to declare that the crushed dolomite in the Manila “white sand” was washed out.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Nakita po na puro kasinungalingan yung lumabas na nag-wash out yung white sand natin,” Antiporda said in a televised briefing.

(Our white sand supposedly washed out was only a lie.)

“Ang nangyari po talaga is wash in. Pumasok po yung itim na buhangin at pumatong sa white dolomite,” he explained.

ADVERTISEMENT

(It was washed in. The black sand covered the white dolomite.)

The DENR official further explained that the beachfront must be maintained. However, its maintenance is yet to be done since it remains under the contractor’s jurisdiction.

DENR: Dolomite not washed out but covered by ‘black sand’

“Talaga pong mine-maintain ito. Kaya po hindi pa mine-maintain ngayon dahil it is still under the jurisdiction of the contractor,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

(This should be maintained. It has not been done now because it is still under the jurisdiction of the contractor.)

Meanwhile, biologists from the University of the Philippines- Diliman earlier said offered to help DENR rehabilitate Manila Bay using “science-based” programs.

“We advocate and are willing to assist the DENR in a science-based rehabilitation program for Manila Bay that targets the recovery of its biological functions and services (e.g., through restoring and protecting key habitats, managing invasive species, reducing pollution, etc.) and understands the interplay between natural processes and human activities,” the UP Institute of Biology said in a recent statement.

“To be successful, the rehabilitation program needs to demonstrate a grasp of land-sea connectivity as well as possible immediate, short-term, and long-term impacts at species, ecosystem, and seascape scales. Its core must be the strategic protection and conservation of biodiversity and ecological integrity providing the ecosystem services: the very reason why we need to rehabilitate Manila Bay,” it added.

Last month, former Manila Mayor and current Buhay party-list Representative  said the  project to beautify Manila Bay is “worthless” and “a complete waste of public funds.”