“Mr. President, the Manila Bay white sand project did not comply with environmental regulations. It has no ECC despite being located in an area with tourist potential and unique historical interest. Projects in these areas require an ECC prior construction under DENR’s regulations.”

This was the reaction of Terry Ridon, Infrawatch PH convenor, to President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks defending the Manila Bay beach nourishment project during the President’s weekly Monday night address.

Ridon said that the President confused the objectives of the Manila Bay rehabilitation as merely aesthetic instead of improving water quality and protecting biodiversity.

“The urgent objective of rehabilitating Manila Bay was not to give the public a nice place to visit, as the President said. The objective is to improve water quality, protect biodiversity and ensure sustainable development. As admitted by DENR officials themselves, beach nourishment is not found in any Manila Bay master plan.”

Anti-corruption

Ridon also reminded the President that the project had indications that the project is tainted with overpricing.

“Allowing this project to proceed without disclosing its project costs will undermine the anti-corruption drive of the President. 

The President should know the following project details:

a. There was only one bidder.

b. There was a mere 2.04% variance from the approved P398-M budget.

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c. The winning bidder did not offer any discount from the bid price, despite being the sole bidder.

d. DPWH did not negotiate for a lower project price.”

Get an ECC, disclose costs

Ridon said these project details alone should give the President pause and order an investigation of the project.

“As previously said, all concerns relating to the project’s costs and environmental impact can be resolved if only it had undergone the ECC permitting process instead of getting an exemption. The rules are clear, if a project is located in an area with tourist potential and unique historical interest, an ECC is required. As such, the President should order DENR and DPWH to get an ECC prior to continuing the project.”

Ridon said concerns on the project vis-as-vis coronavirus response will continue without DPWH disclosing costs.

“Three weeks had already passed since news broke regarding the Manila Bay project but until now DPWH has not disclosed the costs related to the project. It would help their cause to disclose more documentation, and state with certainty how long the beach nourishment will last.”

Ridon said if the sand will last for the next twenty to thirty years, maybe this can be considered as money well spent.

“But the problem with DENR, even an estimation of the project life has not been made. No study has been disclosed projecting the the life of the project. If the project last only until the the next five years, are they willing to go to jail for this?”