The inquiry into the controversial Manila Bay Dolomite Beach Project is not about former President Rodrigo Duterte as the initiative would have been questioned also if another administration spearheaded it, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said on Wednesday.
Ridon in a press briefing at the Batasang Pambansa complex was asked about allegations that the investigation into the dolomite beach issue is mere politicking, as it is supposedly being used to hit Duterte – who was president when the project was initiated.
According to Ridon, the project being conducted under Duterte’s term is merely coincidental, as it would have been subject to criticisms if it were taken by his predecessors or successors.
‘The truth is that for the dolomite , it is only coincidental (that Duterte was president) because irrespective of whichever regime it is, irrespective of whichever government it is, if the dolomite project was made in the Aquino administration, in the Duterte administration, in the current administration, I think people will still have an objection to it,’ Ridon explained.
‘Because the question has always been, first, is it consistent with the Manila Bay master plan? And second is it consistent with the supreme court continuing mandamus. So the question of who the president is is actually irrelevant,’ he added.
Ridon said Duterte is not being targeted – believing that the former president did not make the proposal to rehabilitate Manila Bay using dolomite.
‘There’s no targeting. I think the former president has many other more important concerns that he needs to deal with instead of worrying about the dolomite beach project,’ he said.
‘The truth is, like what we had stated earlier, this is not about the former president, what we want to know is who is the official who proposed for this Dolomite Beach Project. And I am telling you now, it is not the former president,’ he added.
The dolomite project which costs around P349 million has been widely criticized for allegedly being an unnecessary project, especially since it was started in September 2020 – at the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic – while Duterte claimed the government was losing funds.
Officials like Vice President Leni Robredo said that the funds could have been used for other more pressing needs, like financial aid for poor families or gadgets for students enrolling in distance and blended learning modes.
Ridon, for his part, has been critical of the project even before returning to the House of Representatives under Bicol Saro party-list. In September 2020, Ridon, as convener of non-government organization Infrawatch PH, said that the Manila Bay rehabilitation project lacks an environment compliance certificate (ECC) and is allegedly marred by corruption issues.
Ridon said this as several groups believe that dumping crushed dolomite sand over the Manila Bay poses dangers on human health and biodiversity – as pro-environment activists claimed that the sand caused a fish kill.
Other groups also said that dolomite can actually contain heavy metals like lead and mercury, which are both dangerous for humans. Some individuals also pointed out that several American companies have conducted studies on dolomite, warning about higher risks for cancer.
On Monday, Ridon said that the House committee on public accounts, which he chairs, will start the dolomite beach probe by the third week of November. Earlier, the lawmaker said the exact date will be November 19.
According to Ridon, the investigation will focus on whether the project was necessary, and check if the dolomite beach fits the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan and the Supreme Court (SC) writ of continuing mandamus on the Manila Bay rehabilitation.
ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio has thrown his support for the congressional probe, but Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte – Duterte’s son – has accused the lawmaker of being subservient to the current administration.
According to the younger Duterte, it was only during his father’s time that Manila Bay was cleaned.
‘How many decades has it been and there were no officials from the government who gave the right attention to the problems of Manila Bay, and we were accustomed to the dirt and garbage floating on it. Now, a President from Mindanao did something so that Manila Bay could be useful, and many were happy that finally, Manila Bay is clean,’ he said.