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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ridon panel wants to hear Cimatu's side on dolomite beach controversy

Ridon panel wants to hear Cimatu's side on dolomite beach controversy

Published Nov 8, 2025 01:30 pm

At A Glance

  • Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon says Roy Cimatu--the person who served as Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary for the majority of the previous Duterte administration--will be invited to attend the House inquiry on the controversial dolomite beach project.
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon (left), Roy Cimatu (Facebook, DENR)
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon (left), Roy Cimatu (Facebook, DENR)


Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon says Roy Cimatu--the person who served as Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary for the majority of the previous Duterte administration--will be invited to attend the House inquiry on the controversial dolomite beach project.
"Former DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu will be invited to appear before the House Committee on Public Accounts in connection with the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach project," Ridon told House of Representatives reporters in a statement on Saturday, Nov. 8.
"As DENR Secretary, he had ultimate responsibility for the Manila Bay rehabilitation, including the origination and implementation of the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach project," noted Ridon, chairman of the public accounts panel.
Cimatu, 79, is a former chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). He was the DENR head honcho from May 2017 to February 2022.
"He will be asked to explain how the project originated and why he had allowed the project to proceed despite not being part of the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan and despite questions on its consistency with the Supreme Court’s (SC) Continuing Mandamus on the rehabilitation of Manila Bay," Ridon said of former Duterte Cabinet member.
The lawyer-legislator has repeatedly said that the crux of the House inquiry was to find out whether or not the dolomite beach project was truly needed at that time, or if it was the best approach in the context of Manila Bay.
The artificial white sand beach project was carried out at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ridon earlier said that he believed culpability on the issue won't reach up to the level of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
The hearings of the Committee on Public Accounts will be kicked off on Nov. 19.
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