Mayor Isko: Set aside politics in Manila Bay beautification
Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso on Saturday urged the public to set aside politics as various individuals and groups continue to raise health and environment concerns following the dolomite dumping in Manila Bay.
In a speech before the start of the International Coastal Clean-Up Day activities and the partial opening of Manila Bay's "white sand," Domagoso said the city of Manila should not be dragged into the game of politics as it only wanted development for the Bay.
"Ako naman nananawagan, 'wag nyo nang idamay ang Maynila sa pulitika ninyo. Kailangan namin nito, kailangan namin ng malinis na dagat, kailangan namin ng malinis na ilog, kailangan namin ng malinis na creek, kailangan 'yon ng mga susunod na salinlahi namin (I'm appealing not to include Manila in your game of politics. We need this. We need a clean sea, a clean river and a clean creek. This is for future generations)," the mayor said, referring to various developments and clean up drives.
By cleaning Manila Bay and putting 'white sand,' Domagoso said, people would no longer need to go abroad as they may soon experience "Brazil's Copacabana Beach" in the Philippines.
"Let pay the price today so that the next generation will have a better vibrant city of Manila. We deserve it," he stressed, noting that if the development of the bay area is not done today, "then when is the time to take care of our environment?"
Domagoso has expressed full support for the Manila Bay 'white sand' project and enjoined the public to trust the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in this initiative as the local government ensures that any project done in the city is safe before being implemented.
"Umasa kayo na…sa maliit naming kaparaanan bilang pamahalaang lungsod, di rin naman kami papayag na anumang uri ng development we introduce sa lungsod ay makapaminsala sa kalusugan ng tao sapagkat yan ay obligasyon nila, obligasyon namin na mapanitiling ligtas ang bawat tao (You can expect that the city government will not allow any development in Manila will be harmful to the health of the people because our obligation is to ensure the safety of the people)," he added.
"Magkaisa muna tayo. Di kalaban ang DENR... Di kalaban ang pamahalaan. Nandyan lang ho si COVID-19 lumiligid ligid, 'yun ang tunay na kalaban (Let us unite. The DENR and the government are not the enemies. COVID-19 is in our midst. That is the real enemy)," Domagoso said.
Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire earlier said dolomites, particularly crushed dolomite rocks, may lead to "adverse" effects, mainly on the respiratory system. However, she believed that the DENR would not have allowed it if their study did not find it safe.