The P389 million dolomite beach project only covers 500 meters of the 190-kilometer Manila Bay coastline, contrary to what two stone markers placed in the site imply.
The markers, unveiled on June 13, bear photos that claim to show Manila Bay before and after the project. The dolomite beach covers only part of the Manila Bay coast, which spans four provinces (Bataan, Bulacan, Cavite and Pampanga) and five cities (Navotas, Manila, Pasay, Parañaque and Las Piñas) across three regions (National Capital Region, and Regions III and IV-A).
The “beach nourishment” or dolomite project was launched by the DENR in 2020 as part of its rehabilitation efforts for the Manila Baywalk promenade in the bay’s eastern coast.
The dolomite project came under fire as it began at the height of pandemic lockdowns. A 2020 policy note made by a Manila Bay development agency analyzing the project cited research that shows how dolomite, a foreign material, has disturbed local ecosystems and eroded soil in Manila Bay.
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