The shifting sands of public opinion:

Dolomite beach attracts huge crowd

For the past two weeks since the dolomite beach opened to the public on Oct.
16, a total of 322,718 people have already visited
In September 2020, DENR was criticized for the P389 million project which
covered Manila Baywalk area in crushed dolomite stones that created the
white sand effect

The invitation of a white beach, wide space, and free entrance was a perfect mix for
people suffering from cabin fever caused by the stay-at-home –or essentials-only
trips – regulation to prevent the spread of COVID-19 for more than a year now.

The DENR chief, who has repeatedly defended the use of dolomite sand against critics, said the
dolomite sand actually “cleans the water” of the Manila Bay, prevents erosion, and increases the
width of the beach.Aug 27, 2021
According to Cimatu, the fecal coliform in the Manila Baywalk went down from 5.75
million MPN (most probable number) in 2019 to 7,000 MPN in 2020 following the
launch of the Battle for the Manila Bay, a massive clean-up program.

What’s most notable for Cimatu was that the agency recorded the lowest fecal
coliform level in the area where the dolomite sand was dumped, which was at 130 to
140 MPN.

Published October 30, 2021, 5:31 PM

by Joseph Pedrajas
Saving’ Manila Bay:
Dolomite beach, wetlands
drowning in wastes
By: Kurt Dela Peña - Content Researcher Writer

Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1504473/saving-manila-bay-dolomite-
beach-wetlands-drowning-in-wastes#ixzz7EoCoIL8e
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The dolomite beach on Manila Bay sought to portray a successful cleanup campaign
but on the bay’s periphery lay the real problem—ecological damage that hundreds of
millions of pesos worth of artificial white sand is not addressing but, some critics
said, was simply whitewashing.

Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1504473/saving-manila-bay-dolomite-
beach-wetlands-drowning-in-wastes#ixzz7EoCyKTet
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The DENR said the beach, which cost P349 million, was the first phase of its “beach
nourishment” project. Last May, the agency said P265 million was again spent to have
the artificial beach’s second phase completed.
In 2020, Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said the program was
expected to cover 30,000 square meters of Manila Bay, with a length of 500 meters
and a width of 60 meters, specifically the coastline along Roxas Boulevard.
De Jesus, however, said Manila Bay is a vast body of water which is bordered by the
cities of Manila, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas and Navotas and the provinces of
Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan and Cavite

Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1504473/saving-manila-bay-dolomite-beach-
wetlands-drowning-in-wastes#ixzz7EoDYZRWI
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