The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) maintains that the dolomite that was overlayed on the portion of the Manila Bay as part of its beach nourishment project was not washed out, but was only covered by black sand caused by recent rains.

“There is no truth to the news reports that the dolomite sand has already been washed out to the sea,” said DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs Jonas R. Leones.

Leones made the clarification in response to the news reports quoting him that “about 10 percent of the dolomite sand in Manila Bay has been swept to sea by the heavy rains.”

According to the DENR official, the dolomite has been washed in by black sand but it is still intact. “Ang two layers niyan ay regular black sand. Ang top layer ay dolomite. Yung water kapag nagkaroon ng malakas na wave, nadadala iyung black sand dun sa dolomite”.

He clarified that the washed in dolomite “will not be washed out to the sea because of the geo-engineering intervention we put on the project.”

“Besides, the project is still with the contractor. They are still liable in conducting measures for the project,” Leones explained.

He added: “We stand by our statement that the dolomite sand is not being washed out, rather it is just being washed in. We assure the public that we will protect the people’s money.” #