Gwen Garcia says she allowed dolomite shipment for Manila Bay project

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on Monday said that she allowed the shipment of dolomite sand and pebbles from the municipality of Alcoy for the completion of the Manila Bay rehabilitation project.

In September last year, Garcia issued a cease and desist order on two companies involved in the extraction and sale of the dolomite used in the said project.

In a press conference on Monday, Garcia said she gave an exemption for a specific amount of dolomite sand and pebbles for the rehabilitation project upon the request of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

She said she issued a letter in December 2020 addressed to Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones, approving the department’s request.

She said she allowed the shipment of 8,600 cubic meters of dolomite sand and 6,600 cubic meters of dolomite pebbles to Manila.

“I did not lift that (cease and desist order). However, we gave an exemption upon the request of Secretary Cimatu because they needed to finish that Manila Bay project,” Garcia said.

“But that is limited. We have vert specific volumes, sizes for the sand and pebbles. After that, wala na. We did not want na ma-caught in the middle and DENR for that project… That was given clearance so we will allow but at a very specific volume,” she added.

In Executive Order 25 dated September 8, 2020, Garcia instructed both the Dolomite Mining Corporation (DMC) and the Philippine Mining Service Corporation (PMSC) to stop activities involving dolomite.

The two companies were ordered to "immediately cease and desist from further extracting, processing, selling, and transporting of dolomite, associated mineral deposits, and other quarry resources."

Earlier this month, a fresh coat of dolomite sand was placed at the baywalk area of Manila Bay.

As part of its Manila Bay rehabilitation program, the DENR placed tons of crushed dolomite to beautify and rehabilitate a small stretch of the bay’s shoreline.

The project received criticisms from various sectors, with some saying the artificial white sand is likely to be washed away in the future. —NB, GMA News