In Photo: Manila Bay Before (Left) and After restoration (Right)
By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY – Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte lashed out at ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio following the latter’s remarks on the controversial Dolomite Beach project, accusing him and other critics of selective outrage and political grandstanding.
Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s eldest son, who previously served as deputy speaker, made the statement on Monday after Tinio backed calls for a legislative inquiry into the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach project, a P389-million initiative carried out under the Duterte administration.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources was tasked by the Duterte administration to conduct a thorough study on the immediate causes of the concentration of trashes and pollutants at the Manila Bay. The study not only involved the degradation of the Manila Bay but it covered a wide range of investigation that included Pasig River, Baseco and surrounding temporary settlers around the area which had no sanitary toilet facilities, Bulacan, Bataan and Cavite coastal areas. Taking necessary steps to address the issue of sanitation and the unmitigated release of waste and other forms of pollutants, DENR put to task the local government units to curb the unsanitary disposal of all forms of pollutants directly on the sea and waterways that lead to the Manila Bay.
Dolomite, was recommended for Manila Bay to help stabilize the beach line and curb erosion. It was also used to restore the nourishment of the sea water surrounding the beach line which had become a virtual garbage dump site. A plus factor is the present clean and beautiful environment making the bayside a virtual recreation area.
Congressman Duterte said those who are quick to demand accountability, and are looking for someone to blame over the Manila Bay rehabilitation project are silent amidst the large-scale corruption scandals.
“When billions went missing, where were those agencies task to investigate and prosecute? When the people were furious over the blatant corruption exposed just this year, it is noticeable how easily you all forgot,” Duterte said.
The Davao lawmaker swiped at Tinio’s supposed political allies, saying no one had been held accountable for the “billions lost during the time of his master, who was always high and foolish.”
“Let’s not pretend to be champions of transparency if your only goal is politics,” Duterte added. “If you truly want accountability, start with yourselves — and those you’ve served who are tainted with corruption.”
Duterte defended the Manila Bay rehabilitation project initiated under former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s administration, saying it was the first serious effort in decades to address pollution in the area.
“For decades, no government official gave proper attention to the Manila Bay problem. When a President from Mindanao finally did something to make it useful again, many people were happy that it was finally cleaned,” he said.
But now, Duterte said, because of politics, the project is being turned into an issue to discredit former President Duterte.
Duterte emphasized that he had no objections to holding all accountable if there were proven irregularities. However, he questioned why critics were silent on what he described as the “most corrupt budgets” from 2023 to 2025.
“It’s shameful. If you think Filipinos are stupid, you are wrong. It’s clear to every Filipino that these investigations are just ways to cover up the real issues facing the nation today,” Duterte said
Tinio called the Davao lawmaker “ignorant” after the latter claimed that he and the rest of the Makabayan bloc were “silent” amid the corruption issues of the Marcos administration. He advised Duterte to use Google as a remedy.
The Dolomite Beach, part of the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program, has drawn mixed reactions since its launch in 2020, with supporters touting it as a symbol of environmental renewal and critics calling it a wasteful “cosmetic” project.
Not a few countries use dolomite not only to restore the nourishment but also for healthy environment in their coastlines. France, Singapore and Monaco Bay, among others, use dolomite to enhance their beachfronts being a stable and natural sand that also restore the condition of the bay and marine life. The same can be said and seen these days in Manila Bay
