The signage of the controversial Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach has been fixed on Monday, Sept. 27 after it was criticized by the public over the weekend.
The image of the arch first went viral on social media after its signage appeared to have no spaces for each word and initially reads as “MANILABAYWALKDOLOMITEBEACH.”
“Can they afford to install the # (hashtag) sign though? I’m guessing no, seeing how big that arch is to have no spaces between words,” one Twitter user said.
Some also criticized the arch for its cemetery-like ambiance.
"With all the budget that this project has, how come they cannot pull off a more creative, aesthetically and appropriate design for a damn gate? This really gives me the vibe of some cheap beach resort or a gate of a public cemetery," another user said.
The archway and fences were installed to control the number of people entering the beach once it becomes open to the public again.
The beach is not yet open to the public as the city is still under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) Alert level 4.
The rehabilitation of Manila Bay for beach nourishment started in January 2019 with the help of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The DENR took the initiative to help the poor situation of the Manila Bay and to start the coastal preservation at the beach.
The dolomite was collected from Alcoy, Cebu and was transferred to Manila for the commencement of the project that was initiated in August 2020. (Lemuel Baruela)