The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) assured on Wednesday, Oct 27 , hat the Philippine National Police (PNP) will enforce strictly health protocol measures at the Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach in the aftermath of the overcrowding incident in the area.
The dolomite beach was reopened to the public on Oct. 16, the same day the alert level status in the National Capital Region (NCR) was downgraded from alert level 4 to alert level 3 amid a downtrend in new COVID-19 cases.
“have already directed the PNP particularly the MPD (Manila Police District) under Brig. Gen. (Leo) Francisco to coordinate with DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) the other day (Oct. 25) to come up with measures to regulate number of people to be allowed enter the dolomite beach area,’’ Año said.
Año noted that more uniformed PNP will be deployed in the area most specifically during weekends where a mammoth crowd is expected.
On Tuesday, Oct. 26, presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno called on the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to file charges against the DENR for the overcrowding at the man-made beach.
Moreno noted that the overcrowded artificial beach “can be a super spreader” in the metropolis.
Due to the overcrowding dolomite beach fiasco, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu relieved deputy executive director of Manila Bay Coordinating Office Jacob Meimban Jr. from his post on Oct. 27.
In a GMA News report, Cimatu apologized that social distancing was disregarded during the opening of the dolomite beach and vowed that the incident will never happen again.
“This is the reason why Director Meimban is relieved,” Cimatu said.
Malacañang said the possible filing of cases against the DENR for the supposed breach of health protocols following the opening of Manila Bay Dolomite Beach is up to the DILG. (Chito A. Chavez)