Manila Bay: Antiporda Slams UP Experts, Calls Them "Bayaran Kayo"

Benny Antiporda made this comment against UP experts after they have made comments about the controversial Manila Bay white sand project.

MANILA BAY – The controversial Manila Bay project continues to get critical comments and Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda made this comment against UP experts.

Stretched on the shoreline of Manila Bay are dolomites which served as a white sand – a very controversial project. In a previous article, biologists from University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman offered their services to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to rehabilitate Manila Bay without costing so much.

What a waste of money P390M for a promised white sand in Manila Bay. Whether it is wash-out or in, the fact remains that this project is a white elephant project. The money should have been used to care for COVID victims. Wala pang bagyo yan, ulan pa lang..hay naku Pilipinas! pic.twitter.com/YRaZpPkzTm
— M*A*S*H ❤ ALAMANO (@Magtira_Matibay) October 14, 2020

They have expressed that what Manila Bay needs are mangroves for restoration and rehabilitation and the million-budget could have been used to “viable, scientifically sound projects that can restore Manila Bay to a state that is fit for recreation”. They could also use an amount to help the hungry people amid the pandemic.

And just recently, DENR spokesperson Benny Antiporda said on Wednesday that UP experts have “no right” to make critical comments after receiving millions from consultation fees. He lambasted them by disclosing that they have received Php 500 million since 2016 for just consultations alone and no infrastructures at all.

https://twitter.com/TetsMakino/status/1316270131006242816

He went on, “Tapos ngayon, gumagawa kami ng maganda, kailangan magbayad kami sa inyo? Wag naman. Hindi niyo karapatan batikusin ito dahil bayaran kayo. Yun lang po ang masasabi ko sa UP. Uulitin ko, bayaran kayo.”

The official also rejected the mangrove suggestion of the experts saying that it will destroy the landscape and it won’t look pleasing. He even added that it will not survive in such area.

"BAYARAN KAYO."

Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said experts from UP had “no right” to criticize the Manila Bay makeover project, berating them for allegedly receiving millions in consultation fees. https://t.co/L9UpTnmKco pic.twitter.com/epLytMU5Bu
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) October 14, 2020

Moreover, he called out the attention of Commission on Audit to conduct an audit on UP particularly the UP Marine Science Institute regarding the payment they gave to them for consultations when it’s just supposed to be free.