Atienza slams DENR: What’s the point of artificial sand in ‘unswimmable, deadly’ Manila Bay?

 

Larawan mula sa Business Mirror at Philstar

Binatikos din ni Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza nitong Martes ang patuloy na paglalagay ng white sand mula sa durog na dolomite boulders sa Baywalk area ng Manila Bay na proyekto ng Department of Environement and Natural Resources (DENR).

Ayon kay Atienza, na dati ring alkalde ng Maynila, walang silbi ang paglalagay ng beach dahil ang Manila Bay ay nanatiling “unswimmable and deadly.”

“We are appealing to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – Don’t fool the people,” aniya

“The waters of Manila Bay will remain unswimmable and deadly for as long as the waters are not cleaned by the two water concessionaires,” dagdag ng dating alkalde na ang tinutukoy ay ang Maynilad Water Service, Inc, at Manila Water Company.

“Building a white sand beach along Manila Bay is a pipedream, or worse, a camouflage for these companies’ failure to do what they should have done in the first place. You seem not to even mind the non-delivery of this service,” ayon pa kay Atienza

“Let’s stop entertaining people with this song-and-dance routine. Until now, no real action is taken against these two corporations. What is happening? What is going on? What a total waste of much-needed public funds!”

“What good will covering the Baywalk with artificial sand do when the waters of Manila Bay remain as polluted as ever? Let us address the real problem,”  anito

Ayon sa naunang pahayag ng DENR, ang paglalagay ng synthetic na white sand sa Manila Bay ay maaaring maka-discourage sa mga tao na mag tapon ng basura dito.

Sinabi din ng opisyal ng DENR na si Undersecretary Benny Antiporda, dalawang taon nan ang simulant ang proyekto, kasama na ang paglilinis at pagalis ng burak sa ilalim ng dagat.

“Mga dalawang taon na po mula nang nagsimula ito, nung desilting, nung ating tanggalin ang mga burak sa ilalim, linisin iyong buong dagat. May mga gulong pa sa ilalim na narecover, natanggal na po ito at nilagyan na po ng buhangin. Supposedly black sand po iyan, naging white sand po,” ayon kay Antiporda

Samantala, suportado din ni Manila Mayor ang nasabing proyekto bilang pagpapaganda sa Manila Bay.