Polluted stretch of Manila Bay ‘cleaned’ with fake sand
RESIDENTS of the Philippines’ capital flocked to an artificial white sand beach that the government has transformed from a polluted stretch of shoreline to mark International Coastal Cleanup day.
Despite opposition from environmental campaigners, President Rodrigo Duterte’s government has filled a 500m stretch of coastline beside the United States embassy in Manila with sand made from tonnes of crushed dolomite boulders from central Philippines.
Manila Bay is a 60km semienclosed estuary facing the South China Sea.
Its waters are heavily polluted by oil, grease and trash from nearby residential areas and ports.
The use of artificial sand has
When we see something nice being done to our city, we should always be supportive of that. Francisco Domagoso
been met with criticism, with environmental groups saying the facelift focuses only on aesthetics and has little to do with rehabilitation.
Fernando Hicap, president of fisherfolk group Pamalakaya, said that the pollution was killing fish stocks in the bay.
“There is still so much garbage,” he said.
Despite fears that dolomite could be a health hazard, Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso assured the public that the clean-up and beautification project is not a threat to residents’ well-being.
“When we see something nice being done to our city and if we feel it is for the betterment of our city, we should always be supportive of that,” Domagoso said.