This is a very controversial issue these days - the dolomite sand beach of Manila Bay.
But before we go to the issue, let's tackle how it all started. The massive Manila Bay clean-up had started early last year under the Duterte administration spearheaded by DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) headed by Secretary Roy Cimatu. After the massive clean-up, rehabilitation took place and this is a painstaking herculean work. All esteros or tributaries connecting to Pasig River had to be cleaned of course including the latter, Baseco beach had been rehabilitated among others while Manila Bay on the part of Roxas Boulevard is currently on the focus of its rehabilitation. When Isko Moreno took office as mayor of the city of Manila, he pledged his full support to DENR in helping in this endeavor.
When this pandemic came, many things have been halted due to the situation, and that includes the government's project of rehabilitating the Manila Bay. If not of this pandemic, the rehabilitation could have gone a long way now. This project resumes its work when Metro Manila eases the lockdown to GCQ (General Community Quarantine). To everyone's surprise, DENR put an artificial sand to form a beach on a part of Manila Bay as part of the rehabilitation project. The sand is not a natural sand but a crushed dolomite stone imported all the way from Cebu. Controversy came after this. Some people especially the critics of the administration became enraged of this as what they say as being "insensitive" because of spending a big budget for this particular operation that instead could be given to people mostly suffering from the pandemic, and that crushed dolomites could endanger the health of people. Those who oppose the said project rallied to the site and demands the government for this to a halt. DENR explains that the budget for the entire rehabilitation including the putting of the dolomite sand in Manila Bay was already there since it started last year. On the issue of health, they consulted experts on this before they utilize dolomite sand and that DOH (Department of Health) had already stated eventually after an investigation of the sand that dolomites is not that really harmful to people's health. Even Mayor Isko Moreno supported the government's project for he foresees the good outcome of this especially for the tourism aspect of the city.
Many vloggers also came to the scene to show their support to the project. To show also my support, I had to rush there as well and make a very good content for my Youtube Channel. I don't have to waste time not to come for Manila Bay is now the talk of the town and I have to take a "scoop" of the controversy. Furthermore, I don't have any vlogs or videos pertaining to Manila Bay since the massive clean-up last year so I can't afford to pass this opportunity. DENR announced that they will open the beach to public temporarily during the weekends. Surprisingly, many people get there because of excitement to see how the beach may look like actually. Unfortunately when I got the opportunity to get there, it rained hard and a long line of people waited to get in to the beach. The authorities had to let people get in batch by batch to observe social distancing and not letting everyone set foot on yet a small patch of a beach they made for the first phase of the project. Because of the situation, I decided not to wait more while on the line for it will only runs my time there doing nothing. I asses the moment and see how I could make a good content for this even if I couldn't make into the beach itself. I finally found a place where I see a little near to the beach that I could take a video of it at a distance. Generally, it was a little frustrating because I wasn't able to physically touch the dolomite sand but at least I tried to be there and make a vlog even at a distance. In fact I was able to do another video of the famous sunset in Manila Bay which is actually one in my list since last year and we will post it here next time. Don't you worry guys because I planned on returning to Manila Bay soon to get a very good vlog of the place. So watch out for it.


Music by @ikson

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