(Screenshot taken from Dada Koo’s vlog)
Malacañang on Friday clarified that “crushed dolomite boulders” were used in the makeover of Manila Bay’s coastline.
“On the issue of the Manila Bay rehabilitation, per the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the report that ‘white sand’ is being used to fill the stretch of the baywalk is erroneous,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.
“DENR added ‘crushed dolomite boulders’ would be utilized for the aforesaid project,” he continued.
The project, Roque said, was part of the clean-up phase of the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program.
Roque said the budget for the project was allocated prior to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In an interview over Unang Balita, Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said the project aims to prevent people from littering Manila Bay.
“Ito ay isang information campaign din nang malaman ng mga tao na kailangan na natin pangalagaan ang ating Manila Bay, na ‘wag na po natin itong dumihan,” Antiporda said.
“If you will look at it, this is also a sort of awareness to all the people, na alam naman natin na ang tao kapag may kulay puti ay ayaw natin marumihan ito,” he added. John Ezekiel J. Hirro