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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 22) – The Department of Environmental Natural Resources (DENR) has apologized for the much criticized overcrowding of Manila Bay’s “white sand beach”, saying it has done its part by making the area temporarily available to the public.
In an interview with CNN Philippines’ New Day on Tuesday, Undersecretary of the Environment Benny Antiporda said it was not part of his mandate to control people who flocked to the area, many of whom did not practice social distancing and other health protocols.
“We would like to apologize for what happened this weekend. Again, let me tell everyone that each agency in the government has its own mandate,” Antiporda said. “We have our jurisdiction where our jurisdiction is only at the entrance and the white sand area.”
“We have done our part,” insisted Antiporda.
However, he acknowledged that they did not anticipate the long lines of spectators who waited to see the “embellished” shoreline of Manila Bay that was opened to the public over the weekend.
“Social distancing, health protocols were well implemented but sad to say with the long queue, we couldn’t handle the one in the area on the other side. There was this problem and here at the overpass we didn’t have much control either.”
[Translation: Social distancing, health protocols were implemented but sad to say with the long line, we were not able to check the crowd in the other area. We had this problem as well as in the overpass, we failed to control them.]On Sunday, the head of the Philippine National Police, PGen. Camilo Cascolan relieved the Ermita PLtCol Police Chief. Ariel Caramoan for not planning and implementing “strict health and safety measures” in the area.
In a briefing on Monday, Cascolan noted that the police are not alone in the matter.
“It is not only the police who are to blame here. All of us. We must learn. With us in the police, we will always follow the rule of law.”
[Translation: It’s not only the police who are at fault here. All of us are. We should learn from this. The police will always follow the rule of law.]In his speech, President Rodrigo Duterte called out critics of the Manila Bay rehabilitation initiative, including Vice President Leni Robredo, who previously said that funds for the project could have been allocated to families affected by the pandemic.
Duterte also defended Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu for taking up his challenge to clean up the Manila Bay area.
Despite the potential environmental and health hazards, DENR had previously reiterated that the project was carried out with the proper engineering interventions, including crushing and coating of dolomite rocks for the “white sand” of the bay of Manila.
Manila Bay will be fully open to the public after the pandemic, Antiporda said.
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