The new officer-in-charge of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) restated its stance on using crushed dolomite sand to beautify Manila Bay, claiming that it is not harmful to humans.
During a news conference on Monday, DENR OIC Secretary Jim Sampluna was asked about his opinions on the dolomite beach in Manila Bay, which has been the subject of health concerns voiced by many groups.
In the absence of studies indicating that dolomite is hazardous, Sampluna said the DENR would continue to use it, pointing out that dolomite sand has been utilized for various purposes, including aquarium tanks, by other countries.
“Alam mo, until such time that there is a study that would say that is dangerous for health, I think we will continue (using dolomite). You know, ang hindi po natin alam, ‘yang dolomite na ‘yan ginagamit ‘yan sa filter,” Samplona told reporters.
“Alam niyo ba ‘yong Long Beach sa California, ‘yang Long Beach dolomite po ‘yan. Marami ang mga istasyon sa Sentosa in Singapore, dolomite po ‘yan. So kung totoo ‘yong pinagsasabi nila, bakit ginagamit ng ibang country ‘tong dolomite?” he asked.
New DENR-OIC insists crushed dolomite safe
Despite being exposed to dolomite sand, which he claims is used in most aquariums and fish tanks, Sampluna wondered why no water animals had died.
“Isa pang hindi natin alam: if it is dangerous to health, bakit ginagamit natin ‘yan sa mga ‘yong isda sa mga tanks? Mga aquarium, dolomite po ‘yan, matagal na dapat po namatay ‘yong isda dyan sa aquarium, ginagamit ‘yan sa maraming bagay,” he explained.
“So unless we find proof, I mean we can read or we find somebody (saying otherwise), hindi ‘yong dahil lang ayaw niyo doon sa project. I’ll tell you frankly, hindi kami maniniwala d’yan,” the DENR chief added.
According to Undersecretary Jonas Leones, the dolomite beach area will most likely be open to the public before President Rodrigo Duterte leaves office in June 2022.
“We believe that in our effort to close all outfalls na nagdi-discharge dyan sa Manila Bay and then may makita kayo do’n tini-treat na rin namin ‘yong water along malapit do’n sa dolomite so we are confident na kung tuloy-tuloy ‘yon, hopefully by the end of this administration ni Pangulong Duterte we can beat the standard in terms of water quality,” he said.
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