The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced on Tuesday, October 11 that the popular Dolomite Beach in Manila Bay is now finished.
DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones stated that no more funding is required for the artificial white sand beach project for 2023 because it has already been completed, during a meeting of the Senate Committee on Finance.
“I’m happy to say that we have completed the dolomite area, the putting, and placing of sand,” said Leones.
He said that funds will be allocated for the restoration of Manila Bay’s surrounding regions as well as for the construction of a garbage disposal plant to ensure the water body’s preservation.
“There’s no additional budget. The budget for Manila Bay rehabilitation will be given to the different regions for the protection of Manila Bay and for the enforcement and installation of a waste management facility. But for the dolomite in the Baywalk, we have already completed,” he added.
The planned budget for the DENR in 2023 is Php23 billion.
Crushed dolomite was dumped over a 500-meter strip of land next to Manila Bay as part of the P389 million Dolomite Beach project. Critics referred to the project as a tremendous financial waste, while supporters referred to it as “beach nourishment.”
