Edward P

LOCAL LITERATURE
TITLE: “Environmental Impacts of Dolomite Sand on
the Marine Environment of Manila Bay”

AUTHOR: Institute of Environmental Science & Meteorology (IESM) College of Science

UP Diliman (2019)

URL: https://iesm.science.upd.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Manila-Bay-
Statement_IESM_29Spe20-final.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3WBclO-
F4BngmKD_sysBSUOX1f2pbo8L-10-GgzlZ2nxJc2icm8rzPqLU

SUMMARY

Dolomite is a naturally occurring mineral and has a low carcinogenic level to humans.

However, this can be amplified in the food chain through other marine species.

Furthermore, long exposure to this mineral can lead to respiratory problems which have

been reportedly observed in dolomite miners. The washing off of dolomite sand from the

beach is akin to dumping foreign sediments, the most common pollutants in any water

environment. They can disturb the habitats of marine animals and plants by potentially

burying them, lowering the oxygen in the seawater, and blocking their access to

sunlight. These outcomes endanger the biodiversity of the area. The polluted waters

discharging to Manila Bay are already causing the degradation of its marine

environment.
LOCAL LITERATURE

TITLE: “Manila Bay dolomite sand project stirs controversy”

AUTHOR: Marita Moaje (2020)

URL: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125931?

fbclid=IwAR31fjVrnzJOjClkhejETK1BH3D-Pfy_i7NmaAys71aH8dGU4D47pL15_rI

SUMMARY

As to the claim that the dolomites allegedly pose health hazards to the public, the

Department of Health also assured that “no untoward incidents will occur as a result of

the endeavor”. The DOH said the dolomite material used for the project is 100 times

bigger than dust, hence it does not get suspended in the air that would make it

hazardous. The health said the “dolomite, in its bulk state, is not a known health hazard”

and is not included in the list of carcinogens. The estimated cost of the entire Manila

Bay rehabilitation project is PHP389 million, of which, around PHP28 million is allotted

for the dolomite overlay. On claims that the project is a waste of public funds, Cimatu

(2020) assured the public that the funds used for the project will not be put to waste as

people expressed fears that the dolomite sands would simply be washed away

especially during typhoons.

LOCAL LITERATURE
TITLE: “DENR allots P265M for second phase of Manila Bay rehabilitation project”

AUTHOR: Iya Gozum (May 10, 2021)

URL: https://www.rappler.com/nation/denr-allots-millions-second-phase-manila-bay-
dolomite-project?fbclid=IwAR1ZuNUlGblzVg_pv-C1Nvjw1tjhURy-
IwZVih2MPXwgpeRdrcvTjEU0ac8

SUMMARY

An additional P265-million budget is allotted for the second phase of the Manila Bay

dolomite sand project, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

confirmed to Rappler on Monday, May 10. This is on top of the earlier P389-million

budget announced last year. This is a continuation of the beach nourishment project

from the 2019 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Public Works

and Highways (DPWH). The artificial beach is expected to be finished by the third

quarter of 2022. The Manila Baywalk project drew ire from the public for its

controversial premise of beautification and environmental gains, and the environment

department’s inability to present an environmental compliance certificate.

BVILLAPANDO

LOCAL LITERATURE

TITLE: “Manila's New White Sand Coast Is a Threat to Marine Life, Groups Say”

AUTHOR: Leilani Chavez (September 14, 2020)

URL: https://news.mongabay.com/2020/09/manilas-new-white-sand-coast-is-a-threat-

to-marine-life-groups-say/

SUMMARY

The Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources has come under

fire from green groups and government officials after dumping dolomite sand, typically

used in construction, on the shores of Manila Bay as part of a beautification project.

MANILA - Philippine authorities' latest efforts to clean up Manila Bay, one of the

country's most polluted bodies of water, has come under fire after they dumped

truckloads of white sand over the shoreline at the end of August. Pamalakaya remains

concerned about the artificial sand's potential impacts on Manila Bay's marine life, on

which the fisherfolk group's members depend for their daily sustenance.
LOCAL LITERATURE
TITLE: “The Bad Economics of dumping fake white sand along Manila Bay”
AUTHOR: JC Punongbayan (September 11, 2020)
URL: https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/analysis-bad-economics-
dumping-fake-white-sand-manila-bay

SUMMARY

To truly rehabilitate Manila Bay, it’s much better for government to, say, drastically

reduce pollutants at their sources and to protect mangrove areas. In fact, those we’re

some 3,500 tons of crushed dolomite rocks shipped all the way from Alcoy, Cebu,

ostensibly to rehabilitate Manila Bay and promote it as another Boracay within the

country’s capital. The Manila Bay project also belies Duterte’s spiel that government has

no money for economic aid. If Duterte has money to buy and ship dolomite rocks, he

certainly has money for economic aid.

FOREIGN LITERATURE
TITLE: “Philippines: Artificial white sandy beach could spell eco disaster”
AUTHOR: Sarah Steffen (October 26, 2020)
URL: https://www.dw.com/en/philippines-artificial-white-sandy-beach-could-spell-eco-
disaster/a-55397340

SUMMARY

The heavily polluted Manila Bay area, which had been slated for cleanup, has become

the site of a controversial 500-meter stretch of white sand beach. The white sand is

actually crushed dolomite sourced from a mine in Cebu, in central Philippines. Sand

made from dolomite rock. The question of Manila's contentious white beach echoes

larger questions about sand mining worldwide. "Also when you add a couple of meters

sand onto the beach - you essentially bury all things that do creep and fly," he said. As

for Manila's artificial white sand, it looks like some might have already been blown away

by a recent storm.
LOCAL LITERATURE
TITLE: “Impact of the use of Dolomite in beach Nourishment in Manila Bay”
AUTHOR: Marine Geological Survey Division (September 13, 2020)
URL: https://mgb.gov.ph/2015-05-13-02-02-11/mgb-news/890-impact-of-the-use-of-
dolomite-in-beach-nourishment-in-manila-bay

SUMMARY

The beach nourishment of Manila Bay is a part of a marching order issued by the

Supreme Court, a writ of continuing mandamus dated Dec. 18, 2008, whereby the

Supreme Court ordered/directed 13 government agencies to spearhead the clean-up,

rehabilitation and eventual preservation of Manila Bay. Such agencies, include the

following: Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of

Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Education (DepEd),

Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Public

Works and Highways (DPWH), Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA),

Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), Philippine Ports Authority

(PPA), Department of Budget and Management ((DBM), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG),

the Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group, and the Department of Interior and

Local Government (DILG).