President Duterte has defended the Department of Environment and Natural Resources's (DENR) efforts in rehabilitating Manila Bay, specifically its use of crushed dolomite rocks along its shore line.
In his pre-recorded "Talk to the People" public briefing on late Thursday night, Aug. 26, the President was listening to DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu's presentation regarding the agency's accomplishments when he felt the need to chime in on the dolomite issue.
"Dolomite is beautiful to the eyes, period. 'Wag ka na magtanong kasi hindi naman ninyo kaya kung kayo (Don't even ask because if it's you, you would be incapable of doing it). You had your chance, actually. For so many years, you had every chance to do it," Duterte said.
"Was there anybody willing to take the problem by its horns? Si Cimatu lang (Only Cimatu)," he stressed.
The DENR dumps crushed dolomite rocks along the beach in Manila Bay as part of its “beach nourishment” activity. The crushed dolomite, which approximates white sand, gives the artificial beach its striking appearance.
However, the use of dolomite is controversial since the rocks have cost the government millions in cash amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Attesting to Cimatu's competence, Duterte pointed to how the DENR chief has transformed the "cesspool" that was Boracay.
"Ginagawa na nga ni Secretary Cimatu para mapaganda ang lahat. Tignan mo ngayon ang Boracay. Noon, maraming magagandang babae na naliligo doon, Roy. Noong pinaganda mo, mas lalong pinakamagandang lahat na babae sa buong mundo, nandyan na. Ayaw mo pa yan? (Secretary Cimatu has been trying to beautify everything. Look at Boracay. Back then, a lot of beautiful women go to the beach there, Roy. When you improved the place, even more of the most beautiful women in the world went there. And you don't like that?)" he said.
"What is beautiful is beautiful, period," added the Chief Executive.
He went on to further laud Cimatu, who is a former chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
"Pasalamat tayo. Itong mga ito mga retired military na ito, ayaw na nito magtrabaho, pinipilit ko lang (Let's be thankful. These retired members of the military, they don't want to work anymore, I just convinced them to)."