Dolomite sand good for Manila Bay's nourishment -- Cimatu
The crushed dolomite dumped on the shores of the Manila Bay is apparently not only good for the mental health but also for the waters of the famed tourist attraction.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Sec. Roy Cimatu made the assessment Thursday night, Aug. 26, as he presented the department's achievements in a Cabinet meeting with President Duterte.
Cimatu reiterated that the artificial white sand project is part of Manila Bay's "beach nourishment."
The DENR chief, who has repeatedly defended the use of dolomite sand against critics, said the dolomite sand actually "cleans the water" of the Manila Bay, prevents erosion, and increases the width of the beach.
According to Cimatu, the fecal coliform in the Manila Baywalk went down from 5.75 million MPN (most probable number) in 2019 to 7,000 MPN in 2020 following the launch of the Battle for the Manila Bay, a massive clean-up program.
What's most notable for Cimatu was that the agency recorded the lowest fecal coliform level in the area where the dolomite sand was dumped, which was at 130 to 140 MPN.
"Malapit na natin makuha 'yong 100 na ano natin, mission natin 100 para makapag-swimming na (We are close to achieving 100 MPN coliform level. Our mission is to get 100 MPN so people will be allowed to swim)," he said, proving that the dolomite is good for the waters.
In September last year, Presidential spokesman Harry Roque raised another benefit of the dolomite. He said the effects of the placement of the controversial sand "could not be quantified" in terms of benefits to the people's "mental health."
“I don’t buy that argument. Kasi alam mo, sa gitna ng pandemya, kinakailangan din na pangalagaan ang mental health (Because you know, in the middle of the pandemic, we need to take care of our mental health),” Roque said in an interview with reporters as critics argued that funds for Manila Bay’s rehabilitation could have been allotted to the government’s pandemic response.
Duterte, in Thursday's briefing, praised Cimatu for his efforts to rehabilitate Manila Bay.
In defending the rehabilitation project, Duterte said: "Dolomite is beautiful to the eyes, period."
He also claimed it was only Cimatu who had the capability to rehabilitate Manila Bay because the past administrations had the "chance" of doing it, but didn't do something.
"What is beautiful is beautiful, period," he added.