The reasonings behind Manila Bay's synthetic sands are absurd

Wazzup Pilipinas!

“DENR will be causing another round of public health emergencies if they insist on this material for the project.”

The DENR defended its “white sand” makeover of Manila Bay’s shore, saying it will discourage people from throwing garbage in the area.

Huh? Does that justify millions worth of toxic synthetic sand? The Mining and Geosciences Bureau in the Central Visayas confirmed that the mineral used to make the controversial synthetic sand was from Alcoy town, south of Cebu province.

According to a geologist, the engineering technology used in the overlaying of white sand on the shores of Manila Bay “is very costly” and natural alternatives should have been used instead.

The DENR doesn’t have any concrete plan to restore the bay that it resorts to focus on external beautification which is actually a sham and artificial, instead of a genuine rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, the city government of Manila expressed its full support to the national government and the DENR in its implementation of the Manila Bay beach nourishment project that includes the overlaying of “white sand" in the area.

If Manila Mayor Isko Moreno is conniving with DENR regarding the dumping of white sands in Manila Bay, then he is totally cancelledt.

Trapo lang talaga amoy ko sa kanya because he is allied with Duterte.

I think everything he has done is just a show, and part of a script to make him look good in the eyes of the people. (Alamin kung sino-sno mga PR niya, then you'll understand.)

DENR is not protecting the environment with this gimmick. They are only concerned with aesthetics.

Malacañang is also not buying the argument that the funds for the rehabilitation of the Manila Bay could be used for the government’s COVID-19 response instead, saying the white beach in the famous destination can improve the people’s mental health amid the pandemic.

Kalokohan...eh kunsumisyon nga binibigay ngayon. Instead na matuwa kami, lalo lang kami nainis. Nasaan ang mental health doon? Gutom at kawalan  ng trabaho ang pangunahing problema na hatid ng pandemya bakit inuna pa ang pag fake na pagpapaganda ng beach sa baywalk! Utak kamote kayo talaga. Inutil!

Kahit anong ganda ang ipakita mo sa gutom at may sakit, magdidilim ang paningin.

Iniisip yung pagpasyal sa gitna ng pandemya eh ipinagbabawal nga lumabas ang tao dahil sa virus. Asan na ang "stay at home" and go out only for basic necessities? Kasalanan ng tao kasi pasaway, pagandahin ang pasyalan para lalo sila ma encourage lumabas. Kumusta Naman mental health mo, Mars?!

Remember the walls put up during Marcos' time whose only purpose was to hide the shanties of squatters (now called informal settlers) when they had visitors? 

This is the same thing, and it's not even the appropriate time to boost tourism since travel is not yet allowed...and there are more urgent matters to prioritize.

Someone is trying to artificially make Manila Bay look good even if it means just covering up the black sand and "burak" underneath...and not improving the environment the natural way.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) should be ashamed of themselves.

Let's just promote Manila Bay's natural beauty.

"Instead of fresh sea air, promenaders will get a whiff of toxic dust from (overpriced) dolomite sand when the P389-million Manila Bay rehabilitation project is completed, environmentalists claimed."

Is this the tourism boost that we want? To be known as the bay with artificial or synthetic sands?