Dolomite story

Dolomite story | Daily Tribune

Some political characters, for reasons of abject intellectual poverty, ignorance, or simply for impish impertinence, keep harping on the issue of using dolomite in rehabilitating the degraded area of Manila Bay.

We hoi polloi from the boondocks of Mindanao were taught in high school how beautiful the sunset of Manila Bay was. But we later learned that as Metropolitan Manila progressed, the pollution of Laguna Bay and the human habitations along the banks of the Pasig River became the source of tons of garbage and fecal waste that found their way to — where else but Manila Bay.

From being a national pride, Manila Bay transmogrified into a national shame, prompting the Supreme Court to issue a Writ of Continuing Mandamus in 2008, ordering local governments around the bay to rehabilitate their respective areas.

Nothing perceptible in terms of compliance happened since the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It was only during the term of President Rodrigo Duterte that the Writ was complied with.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources then headed by Secretary Roy Cimatu, which was the lead agency tasked to implement the order, finally moved to undertake the gargantuan task.

In all, eight provinces and 178 cities and towns around Manila Bay participated in what Secretary Cimatu dubbed the Battle of Manila Bay.

I opted to write about this politically weaponized dolomite topic. I picked up vital information from articles that explained in depth why and how dolomite came into play in the rehabilitation of Manila Bay. Verily, it was obvious from the very start that the project was not only for that small portion of the bay but also encompassed the towns and cities along Laguna Lake, the Pasig River, and those along the Bay’s coastline.

Just the other day, President Bongbong Marcos made a big show of his plan to cut down what causes flooding in Metro Manila. He spoke of cleaning up and dredging drainage canals and repairing gateways, which was actually part of the cleanup and rehabilitation drive of Manila Bay.

A number of informative theses have been written to make the public understand the scope of the Manila Bay rehabilitation, but myopic views, which sadly characterize the comments of not-so-few political characters, find space in all media platforms. It’s all motivated by sheer toxic politics.

As the saying goes, “the proof of the pudding is in the eating.” Given what the Duterte administration had done to comply with the Writ of Continuing Mandamus, the fact is that part of Manila Bay, where dolomite sand was used, not only resuscitated its beauty but also the marine life. It has remained stable despite the many storms and is a sight to behold.