DENR: ‘Dolomite beach’ complete, no budget for 2023

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Tuesday said the pouring of dolomite sands in the Manila Bay area has been completed.

During the Senate hearing on the proposed P23-billion budget of the DENR for 2023, Undersecretary Jonas Leones said no budget will be allocated for the “dolomite beach."

"I am happy to say that we have already completed the dolomite area, the placing of the sand. There is no additional budget,” he said.

Trash litters the shoreline of Manila Bay's dolomite beach on Sunday, August 14, 2022. The Philippines is one of the top producers of plastic waste in the oceans. DANNY PATA

The beautification project in Manila Bay using crushed dolomite received criticisms from environmentalists and fisherfolk.

Greenpeace Southeast Asia pointed out that pouring white sand does not resolve the pollution in the bay.

Fisherfolk group alliance PAMALAKAYA called the project an “artificial rehabilitation” that focused on aesthetics rather than addressing the environmental degradation problems of Manila Bay.

Ocean conservation organization Oceana Philippines expressed alarm that the white sand is not the natural substance suited on the surface of the bay. Aside from destroying the natural ecosystem in Manila Bay, it said the government may also damage the environment of the source of the white sand.—LDF, GMA News