DU30 defends Manila Bay sands project

Well the President believes in the wisdom of the people and the President also believes in Vox Populi, Vox Dei (The voice of the people is the voice of God)

President Rodrigo Duterte has defended the government’s move to pour artificial “white sand” on the shores of Manila Bay, even if the Department of Health (DoH) expressed alarm that hundreds of people trooped to the area without observing one-meter distancing.

In his public address Monday night, the President told his Cabinet members to ignore criticisms on Manila Bay’s nourishment project, saying that the opposition would find a way to fuss over the administration’s programs.

“People now really enjoy the reclaimed area with the white sand,” Duterte said.

“The yellows, if you say something, if you do something, you are evil. If you won’t do it, you are still bad. Son of a bitch. What do you want?” he added.

The President also lauded Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu for fulfilling his “dare” to rehabilitate the garbage-ridden Manila Bay, known for its picture-perfect sunsets.

The DENR on Tuesday welcomed the support shown by the President.

DENR Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and LGU Concerns Benny Antiporda the President’s remarks underscored the fact that the opposition and other critics would always find a way to fuss over the administration’s programs.

“Well the President believes in the wisdom of the people and the President also believes in

Vox Populi, Vox Dei (The voice of the people is the voice of God),” Antiporda told the Daily Tribune during a phone interview.

“So when he sees the support of all these people to the Manila Bay project, he was also overwhelmed that they are happy with the project,” he added.

DoH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said it was worrying that Filipinos went to Manila Bay over the weekend for a chance to view the synthetic white sand — made of crushed dolomite rocks — along Roxas Boulevard.

Visitors were seen taking pictures and holding zumba sessions even if the government discourages Filipinos from doing non-essential things outdoors amid the ongoing pandemic.

Due to the incident, authorities closed off Manila Bay to the public. Ermita Police Station Commander Ariel Caramoan was also relieved from his post for supposedly failing to implement safety protocols at the controversial baywalk.

Manila Bay grabbed headlines earlier as environmental groups criticized the move to put pulverized rocks along its shores, saying it would hurt the natural ecosystem in the area and in Cebu, where the dolomites came from.

A dolomite is a calcium magnesium carbonate used for construction works.