DENR pushes to make Dolomite Beach swimmable before Duterte’s term ends

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is pushing to make the so-called Dolomite Beach in Manila Bay swimmable to people before the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term in 2022.

During the Laging Handa briefing on Wednesday, Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda was asked if the ideal coliform level has not yet been reached.

“Well, kaunti na lang po. Actually, nakikita nga po ng atin pong kalihim na ipinipilit po na bago ho matapos ang administrasyong ito ay maging swimmable na po ang area [na] ‘yan,” Antiporda said.

(Just a little more. Actually, our secretary sees that we can push to make the area swimmable before this administration ends.)

“‘Yan po ‘yung pinipilit ng atin pong kalihim Roy Cimatu na nakikita naman po natin na talagang hindi ho imposibleng makamit natin dahil malaki na po ang ibinaba ng fecal coliform level po ng tubig natin,” he added.

(That is what our [DENR] Secretary Roy Cimatu is pushing and we observe that it is not impossible to achieve this because the decrease in the fecal coliform level of the water is already significant.)

The DENR is also eyeing to make Dolomite Beach a tourist attraction to help spur the economy, Antiporda said.

Dolomite Beach is open to the public as early as 5:30 a.m. with breaks between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to make way for cleanup, and opens up again until sunset around 6 p.m.

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JPV