Manila Bay dolomite beach reopens to public

The controversial Manila Bay dolomite beach was officially reopened to the public on Sunday evening, following rehabilitation to improve the water quality in the area.

The 500-meter beach was opened to the public at 4 p.m. on Sunday, after several delays. The reopening was originally scheduled for May 20, then moved to June 3, and eventually moved to Independence Day, June 12.

Also unveiled on Sunday was the World War II Heritage Cannon in the Remedios area fronting the Rajah Sulayman Park, in efforts to “encourage patriotism among the public and to signify that the battle to cleanup Manila Bay is now yet over.”

The reopening was attended by Acting Environment Secretary Jim Sampulna, former Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.

President Rodrigo Duterte was initially expected to attend the reopening, but was a no-show at the event.

Cimatu said the challenge for the incoming administration—set to take over on June 30—will be to make the area “swimmable.”

At present the public is not allowed to swim, smoke, spit, and collect dolomite sand in the area. Pets are also banned from entry.

Waters along the Manila Bay recorded a coliform level of 5.75 million most probable number (MPN) per 100 milliliters. Levels at one station at the beach has already gone down to 920 MPN/100mL as of May 13.

Moving forward, the dolomite beach will be open to the public every day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) capping the crowd at 3,500 at a given time.

The P389-million beautification project of the DENR was first opened to the public in September 2020.

The project was slammed by environmental groups, who called it an environmental hazard and a waste of taxpayer money amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Malacañang on Monday backed the project, claiming that it will help in flood control and prevent soil erosion. — BM, GMA News