MGB clarifies Manila Bay rehab

This is in reference to the issue published by The Philippine STAR on Sept. 15 with the heading, “White sand not remedy to Manila Bay pollution” written by Ma. Louise Maureen Simeon. It is an article written on the recent news article released by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau on the impact of dolomite used for beach nourishment.

The said article is misleading as it has implied that the use of dolomite for the bay’s rehabilitation is the sole solution to Manila Bay’s pollution problem. It distorts readers to what the actual MGB news article is essentially about. Undeniably, Manila Bay is a heavily polluted area which needs a long period of rehabilitation for its recovery. We would like to clarify that part of the rehabilitation of Manila Bay is the clean-up of esteros and river systems, installation of several sewerage treatment plants, dredging and removal of buried dirt and toxic materials in the bay bottom, planting of mangroves in identified suitable sites, engineering intervention like geotubes and geotextiles to retain the introduced dolomite, relocation of informal settlers from easement of rivers and creeks, among others.

As stated in the article, the beach nourishment of Manila Bay has been considered as one of the effective ways for the beach area’s beautification and survival. A part of the researched projects of the government’s 10-year plan for rehabilitation is how the beaches will be saved, thus the need for beach nourishment.

In this context, we vehemently deny that MGB made the said statement published by Ms. Simeon.  – Wilfredo G. Moncano, Director, Mines and Geosciences Bureau