Dolomite beach closed until 2022

MANILA, Philippines — The man-made dolomite beach along Baywalk will remain closed to the public until early 2022 to give way for the completion of the rehabilitation works in Manila Bay, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced yesterday.

In a virtual press conference, DENR Undersecretary for policy, planning, and international affairs Jonas Leones said the beach was closed from Oct. 29 to Nov. 3, but the Manila Bay Task Force (MBTF) and DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu “wanted all the rehabilitation works completed first, so that the public can fully enjoy the beach once it reopens.”

The closure follows an incident on Oct. 24 wherein authorities failed to control the influx of more than 121,000 visitors to the beach. The incident led to the relief of MBTF ground commander Jacob Meimban Jr., who was replaced by retired Army general Reuel Sorilla, officer-in-charge of the DENR’s Environmental Law Enforcement and Protection Service.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno earlier said DENR officials should be charged since the agency did not coordinate the opening of the beach with city hall.

While not giving a detailed timeline, Leones said the DENR aims to finish all the works by the end of the year or by the first quarter of 2022.

Leones said the remaining rehabilitation works include cleanup and inspection of several sewage treatment plants to improve the water quality in the bay so it would be considered fit for swimming and other recreational activities.

Other rehabilitation works include the repair of the drainage system in the Padre Faura, Remedios and Abad outfalls; construction of an additional outfall near the dolomite beach’s rock garden, where high fecal coliform levels were earlier detected; renovation of a fishing area at the Manila Yacht Club; construction of a children’s playground, solar-powered restrooms, souvenir shops and an administrative office for the task force.

Leones said additional lamp posts as well as landscaping will also be installed along the Baywalk area.

The expansion of the beach, the second phase of the project, is set to start this week and will cover up to 500 meters.

Leones said geo-engineering interventions such as geotubes, which can cover 360 meters of beach area, will be in place so the artificial sand would not be washed away.

Leones said the DENR coordinated with the Department of Public Works and Highways and project contractors to ensure unhampered construction works.

Sorilla, over the weekend, said he had ordered the deployment of additional personnel at the beach “for stricter security patrolling and monitoring in the area.”