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Like a proud parent, the government parades its flag of success as the Manila Bay rehabilitation project came to a close last September 20. With netizens coining it as the Boracay of Manila, it is understandable that the bay drew in the intrigue of many; but, under all this beauty, does the dolomite-covered bay pose as a danger to its diehard supporters?
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced that crushed dolomite - sourced all the way from the mountains of Cebu - will cover the 500-meter Manila baywalk. News reports say that 500 tons of crushed dolomite were placed along this area. The opening day saw hundreds of people flocking to the area to get an Instagram-worthy photo. Despite the enormous signages that said “Please Practice Social Distancing”, people still stuck closely in groups and even took off their masks for selfies; one person even went viral for wearing a swimsuit to the opening.
With the inappropriate use of funds at a time of pandemic, people who disregard safety protocols for an Instagram-worthy photo, and the hazardous characteristics of dolomite, this course of action by the government is ill timed, has been poorly supervised by health authorities, and poses a serious threat to the health of many who may be exposed to the bay regularly.
The Manila Bay Rehabilitation Project was criticized by many people and netizens alike for the immediate course of action for Manila Bay when authorities have not even been doing the bare minimum to alleviate the country’s current situation amid this pandemic these past 6 months. De Vera-Ruiz (2020) of Manila Bulletin included in her article that Fisherfolk group Pamalakaya described the rehabilitation as an “artificial rehabilitation focusing on aesthetic appearance rather than addressing the environmental degradation problems” of Manila Bay. Further validating the previous statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stated in a press conference, “Sa tingin ko po ang beach na ‘yan ang makakatulong pa para maging pinakamagandang lugar sa buong mundo ang Manila Bay (I think that beach would help Manila Bay be known as one of the most beautiful places in the world).”
The government continues to defend its position on the project explaining that aside from the beautification purpose, the bay-walk also serves as a line of defense when natural disaster strikes. Above this, the palace explains that this project also proves as a preventive effort when combating soil erosion and flooding in the area. Despite these claims, it cannot be ignored that, for a government whose president claimed to have little to no funds left out of the trillions of pesos of loans from international banks and countries, there definitely was P389-million pesos that was used for crushed dolomite rather than for the COVID-19 situation.
To add fuel to the already-raging fire, dolomite is not as safe as authorities claim it to be.
Dolomite is a type of limestone that is mainly used as an ingredient for producing road base material and for producing cement. It serves as the host rock for metals such as lead, zinc, copper, aluminum, arsenic, lead, mercury, and nickel, making it contain traces of crystalline silica (King, n.d.). This brings us to the hazard that dolomite brings; inhaling traces of crystalline silica could bring about potential illnesses and may even cause cancer due to it being a potential carcinogen.
But, before the public opening, the Department of Health (DOH) acknowledged the harmful effects of dolomite dust, yet argued that the dolomite sand found in Manila Bay ranges from 2-5mm or 100 times bigger than dust, thus deeming it safe for the public. DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu even chimed in and added that "It is not listed by the Mines Safety and Health Association, Occupational Safety and Health Association or even in the International Agency for Research of Cancer as a carcinogen." Cimatu goes on saying that the danger is only present in the process of crushing and screening of the dolomite. These assurances may bring on a sense of calm to some, in spite of that it leaves us with the question of are we willing to risk our health in the time of a pandemic nonetheless all for the sake of fake sand?
As best stated in an article by Rosario (2020) or Manila Bulletin, “instead of fresh sea air, promenaders will get a whiff of toxic dust from dolomite sand.” To make things worse than it already is, sand sinks in water, but rocks like dolomite float. That pile of crushed rocks won’t last in Manila Bay. The sandbags placed around the shore are already a sign that the task force assigned to the rehabilitation are realizing the consequences of the P389-million worth of actions that are biting them back.
Here we are, with 500 tons of toxic dust dumped in the 500-meter baywalk that cost P389-million pesos of the taxpayers’ money. All these figures boil down to the priorities of the government - which are clearly not on flattening the curve that Filipinos have been wanting to eradicate since March.
This is not where the billions worth of funds should be being poured into. Imagine the fate of patients with lethal cases being shoved away in the back of the government officials’ heads because of lifeless, crushed rocks that don’t belong in the Manila Bay but back in the mountains of Cebu.
The list could go on about all the things wrong with the Manila Bay Rehabilitation. The intentions to beautify the bay may have been inherently good, but its ill timing and impending threat of sickness makes one question the priorities of the government. If they were already willing to gamble between the ephemeral beauty of the bay and the priceless health of the people, it makes you wonder what would happen if they were to gamble for more.
So, the next time a diehard dolomite supporter praises the beauty of the now-Instagram-worthy Manila Bay, it would help to tell them a thing or two about how people might actually die hard from dolomite.
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