Manila bay is the Philippines' major center of economic activities ranging from shipping, industrial, commercial, fishing, tourist activity, and aquaculture. Earlier in 2018, the Esquire Magazines reported that some 80 tons of garbage washed ashore in the following days of rain in the manila bay (Mawis, 2020). Because of the various activities happening on the coast of manila bay, environmental issues become a threat to all living species around its coast in which it causes pollution from land and sea, loss of habitats. With these threats, the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) declared to start the rehabilitation of manila bay by dumping white sand as a solution. The white sand according to Algo,(2020) represents cleanliness.
Some netizens questioned the purpose of Manila bay rehabilitation and some of them gave appreciation but mostly gave a negative impression about it. Many Filipinos stated that using crushed dolomite as white sand does not help reduce contamination and does not respond to the needs of people (Baizas, 2020). Also, Senator Cynthia Villar gave a negative impression to the rehabilitation of manila bay she stated that “the rehabilitation of manila bay is not only for beautification. It is important to also preserve biodiversity here because people’s livelihood also depends on this. Some 300,000 fishermen are dependent on the fish supply in the Manila Bay” (Terrazola, 2020). The lawmakers and public officials have called it a waste of resources because for them the fund should’ve been used to supplement the country’s pandemic health response and provide gadgets for public school (Chavez, 2020). The dolomite can also cause harm to marine diversity since it contains chemicals that can affect fishers in the sector of agriculture (Chavez, 2020). The idea of dumping artificial white sand on the coast of Manila bay is unnecessary in today’s situation and can harm the environment.
The successful rehabilitation of manila bay is not only to focus on cleaning the water but also on preserving the ecosystem that once thrived within it. There is a lot of solution to be enforced to rehabilitate the manila bay in which the government will be practical enough on budgeting. People would've shown appreciation for this project if it did not happen in the middle of a pandemic. The project only adds to the problems that prevent the government from prioritizing the uprising cases of COVID-19. Moreover, the idea of dumping artificial white sand on the coast of Manila bay is unnecessary in this situation and it can be a threat to the environment. Our country facing many issues and problems that the government should prioritize more.
Reference
KEEPING MANILA BAY HEALTHIER AND CLEANER
Fact Sheet on Manila Bay Rehabilitation
DENR vows to finish Manila Bay rehab despite criticisms
Everything You Need to Know About the 'White Sand' in Manila Bay
Manila’s new white sand coast is a threat to marine life, groups say
Health, legal, economic issues bug DENR’s Manila Bay ‘white sand’
Waaah, depresion is real, needed ko na ata pumunta manila bay😂