Manila Bay 'White Sand' Project: Roque Responds To De Lima's Criticism

Sen. Leila De Lima Criticize Manila Bay ‘White Sand’ Project, Roque Responds

MANILA BAY – Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque responded to Sen. Leila de Lima’s criticism of DENR’s Manila Bay ‘white sand’ project.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said they will transform Manila Bay into a ‘white sand’ beach. The agency said its part of the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program.

Netizens, groups, and some lawmakers are calling for a stop to the project. Some say it could destroy the coast or ‘insensitive’ move because the country is still battling the pandemic.

Manila-Bay-white-sand-4 — Photo Source: Manila Bulletin

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque defended DENR’s ‘white sand’ project in Manila Bay. He said the makeover on the area will benefit Pinoy’s mental health.

“I don’t buy that argument. Kasi alam mo, sa gitna ng pandemya, kinakailangan din na pangalagaan ang mental health,” he said.

Roque also said the funds for the rehabilitation project were already allocated before the coronavirus outbreak. He also clarified that the agency used crushed dolomite boulders from Cebu and not white sand.

Sen.-Leila-De-Lima-1 — Photo Source: South China Morning Post

Based on a report from Manila Bulletin, detained Senator Leila De Lima criticized the government for prioritizing the beautification of Manila Bay amid the pandemic. She also slammed the DENR for dumping crushed dolomite on the area.

“We put a halt to numerous projects and programs in the 2020 budget so we could fund our COVID-19 response, yet they still pursued this endeavor without even a second thought. Millions of pesos down the drain, and worse, most likely attended by corruption, again!”

“For some idiotic inevitability, the DENR has caught the window-dressing bug of this administration and has now decided to become the Department of Environmental Cosmetics,” she said.

News5 shared Roque’s response to Leila De Lima’s criticism on their Twitter page. The spokesperson said the senator is against the ‘white sand’ project because she can’t benefit from it.

“Naiintindihan ko kung bakit hindi sang-ayon si Sen. Leila de Lima dahil hindi naman siya makikinabang. Siya ay nakakulong at hindi niya makikita ang ganda ng Manila Bay,” Roque said.