Cimatu aims to increase the width of Manila Bay beach
Published Sep 10, 2020 07:55 pm
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu said beach nourishment in Manila Bay may help increase the width of the beaches as they are “very narrow.”
Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu
(RTVM / MANILA BULLETIN) This was part of the DENR's response to a letter sent by the office of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno last Sept. 7, seeking the agency's clarification on the safety of dolomite to public health. In his response dated Sept. 8, Cimatu pointed out that beach nourishment is the practice of adding sand or sediment to beaches to combat erosion and increase beach width. Beach nourishment, he explained, should be applied in Manila Bay because "Manila Bay is not considered prone to coastal erosion as it is mostly protected by seawalls, but the beaches are very narrow.” He cited that under the writ of continuing Mandamus issued by the Supreme Court on Dec. 18, 2016, a marching order was given to 13 government agencies, including the DENR to spearhead the clean up, rehabilitation, and preservation of Manila Bay "to make it more suitable for swimming, skin diving, and other forms of contact recreation and for protection of coastal communities." "After dredging and clean up of the Bay, it was agreed upon by members of the different agencies involved in the rehabilitation of Manila Bay that the initial beach nourishment in Manila Bay will be applied in segment between the area fronting the US Embassy and the Manila Yacht Club to mimic a sort of a 'pocket beach,' the northern portion protected by the compound of the US Embassy and the south side sheltered by the Mall of Asia compound," the letter read. Cimatu further explained that the "small nourishment project or in phase is rather preferred than a single large project covering the whole bay because aside from the bigger cost it will allow some beach and bay animals to survive and reproduce," adding it "will cause lesser project footprint." He said the "white sand" is an added aesthetic value of the Bay and to mimic the beaches of Boracay and Panglao. "White sand was considered to be added placing sandy manufactured dolomite to the beaches of Manila Bay, which can also increase the recreational value of the place while securing/replenishing the beach against shore erosion," the DENR chief said. Cimatu reiterated that the dolomite sand used for the Manila Bay project is "not known as health hazard." He also defended the use of dolomite sand or "ground sand" in the beach nourishment, saying "abundant supply of natural sand is not available around Manila Bay." "Sand bars and sand spits with natural sand are in remote locations and extraction in these areas are more disruptive to the environment. Besides, beach mining is illegal. An advantage of dumping ground sand is that it is free of silt and clay particles, and has denser particle packing than natural sand," Cimatu said. "It also offers higher flexural strength, better abrasion resistance, higher unit weight, and lower permeability," he added. He also said that dolomite can "neutralize acid in marine waters, which is essential in stream and even bay restoration projects and act as soil conditioner."
Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu(RTVM / MANILA BULLETIN) This was part of the DENR's response to a letter sent by the office of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno last Sept. 7, seeking the agency's clarification on the safety of dolomite to public health. In his response dated Sept. 8, Cimatu pointed out that beach nourishment is the practice of adding sand or sediment to beaches to combat erosion and increase beach width. Beach nourishment, he explained, should be applied in Manila Bay because "Manila Bay is not considered prone to coastal erosion as it is mostly protected by seawalls, but the beaches are very narrow.” He cited that under the writ of continuing Mandamus issued by the Supreme Court on Dec. 18, 2016, a marching order was given to 13 government agencies, including the DENR to spearhead the clean up, rehabilitation, and preservation of Manila Bay "to make it more suitable for swimming, skin diving, and other forms of contact recreation and for protection of coastal communities." "After dredging and clean up of the Bay, it was agreed upon by members of the different agencies involved in the rehabilitation of Manila Bay that the initial beach nourishment in Manila Bay will be applied in segment between the area fronting the US Embassy and the Manila Yacht Club to mimic a sort of a 'pocket beach,' the northern portion protected by the compound of the US Embassy and the south side sheltered by the Mall of Asia compound," the letter read. Cimatu further explained that the "small nourishment project or in phase is rather preferred than a single large project covering the whole bay because aside from the bigger cost it will allow some beach and bay animals to survive and reproduce," adding it "will cause lesser project footprint." He said the "white sand" is an added aesthetic value of the Bay and to mimic the beaches of Boracay and Panglao. "White sand was considered to be added placing sandy manufactured dolomite to the beaches of Manila Bay, which can also increase the recreational value of the place while securing/replenishing the beach against shore erosion," the DENR chief said. Cimatu reiterated that the dolomite sand used for the Manila Bay project is "not known as health hazard." He also defended the use of dolomite sand or "ground sand" in the beach nourishment, saying "abundant supply of natural sand is not available around Manila Bay." "Sand bars and sand spits with natural sand are in remote locations and extraction in these areas are more disruptive to the environment. Besides, beach mining is illegal. An advantage of dumping ground sand is that it is free of silt and clay particles, and has denser particle packing than natural sand," Cimatu said. "It also offers higher flexural strength, better abrasion resistance, higher unit weight, and lower permeability," he added. He also said that dolomite can "neutralize acid in marine waters, which is essential in stream and even bay restoration projects and act as soil conditioner."