Rodolfo B. Opido Jr.

GED0113- Thursday Group (1:30-3:00)

Sugarcoating, whitewashing, and patching up: Dolomite as a symbol environmental blindspot

The Manila Bay has been long-standing since the arrival of Spaniards. Its bay served as a
commercial route for economic pursuits such as industrial activities, tourism endeavors and
fishing. However, it faces current problems ranging from effects of overpopulation, land-based
pollution, lack of funds, and unsupervised maintenance. The overarching effects of these may
lead to severe environmental deprivation of the biodiversity and eco-life of the marine species
which will untimely and ultimately impact the lives of Filipinos. That is why the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) spearheaded the Manila Bay rehabilitation project
by covering the shores by dolomite sands. However, the claimed “beautification” of this
waterbody went downhill: the white sand project poses greater impact on health, ecosystem and
the country’s resources for future national development. Thus, The Manila Bay rehabilitation
project must be clearly focused on restoring natural environmental health and not on beautifying
the bay through beach nourishment.

One of the claims that I want to point out here is that beach nourishment does not solve
and prevent coastal erosion, flooding and pollution. A joint statement of Institute of
Environmental Science & Meteorology (IESM), University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman and
the university’s College of Science emphasized the hydrological, meteorological and
hydrodynamic facets of Manila Bay (Institute of Environmental Science & Meteorology ,
College of Science, & UP Diliman, 2020). Since the Philippines is prone to typhoons,
flashfloods, and rainfalls, these would mean that the dolomite sands would only erode and carry
away by these natural disasters. Until such time that these sands will wash off in the bedrock of
Manila Bay, the erosion of white sands will only compound to the present environmental issues
like floating solid wastes and micro-contaminants and impurities in the Manila Bay.

Furthermore, dolomite sand posed problem on marine life when integrated with their
habitat. On the official statement of the UP Marine Science Institute on the rehabilitation project
of the DENR, they firmly remarked that the pulverized and fine-grained dolomite sands create
health issues on Filipinos because dust inhalation may cause “discomfort in the chest, shortness
of breath and coughing” (UP Marine Science Institute, 2020). In the same vein, marine habitats
of aquatic animals and plants will be damaged and possibly create an overlay above the water
which will decrease the oxygen levels and hinder the access of sunlight. The end result would be
two-pronged devastation on both biodiversity and human’s health condition. That is why while
DENR is hell-bent on pursuing this preposterous project, it will only accelerate the deterioration
of human and aquatic life. While the DENR counter-argued that dolomite sands, as corroborated
by the Department of Health (DOH), are not considered hazardous on the health of humans
because it is too big to be suspended in the air and inhaled by the humans (Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, 2020), its environmental preservation like this, must
possess a keen sense of understanding on the problem: there are no short-cuts, and one-way
procedures for cleaner environment.

This is where McMichael’s (2017) “significant ecological blindspot” takes place (p. 8).
While the rehabilitation project is seen as a development or improvement of the Manila Bay’s
ecological conditions, there is underlying environmental impacts and social consequences. The
gorvenrment fixatedly pushed through the development or rehabilitating programs that would
help to restore the beauty of the bay; however, such approach lacks the ecological dimension to
sustain the economic sector. The white sand project does not enable its renewal of Manila Bay
but exacerbate the far-reaching and long-standing environmental problems. Thus, the
globalization projects must shift and maintain to sustainability projects. If one would argue that
the cost is too high to sustain and restore Manila Bay with evidence-based and robust
approaches, then what is wrong of investing on these policies if our aim is create sustainable
projects? Instead of advancing to unpractical methods with short-term effects, why not shift our
focus on holistic approaches that would create a win-win situation to both health and
environmental implications?

Although the road to development is arduous and taxing, it should not be a one-shot deal.
Filipinos should have a culture of complex understanding and complete vision to contemporary
issues. There is a defining line between development with social disproportion and environment
degradation and development with growth: equal access to basic human rights, equal job
opportunities and stimulating economic success. Development must be weave within the social,
political, cultural and economic fabrics. It must not be undermining and chaotic itself but should
be originated from inclusive, unified and collective goals and actions.

References
Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (2020, September 30). LOOK:
Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)
of the DENR released the results of the analyses conducted on the dolomite sand samples
from the Manila Bay Beach Nourishment Project to determine whether they contain heav.
Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/DENROfficial/posts/3297195853731354

Institute of Environmental Science & Meteorology , College of Science, & UP Diliman. (2020,
September 29). Environmental Impacts of Dolomite Sand on the Marine Environment of
Manila Bay. Retrieved from
https://iesm.science.upd.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Manila-Bay-
Statement_IESM_29Spe20-final.pdf

McMichael, P. (2017). Development and Social Change: a global perspective. Los Angeles:
Sage Publications, Inc. .

UP Marine Science Institute. (2020, September 30). PRESS RELEASE: official statement of the
UP Marine Science Institute on the Dolomite Sand in Manila Bay. Retrieved from
https://www.facebook.com/upmarinescienceinstitute/photos/pcb.1025506481204991/102
7259384363034