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INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines – Undersecretary of the Environment Benny Antiporda apologized to the University of the Philippines (UP) on Thursday after receiving criticism for his “bayaran ka” comment addressed to the institution’s experts amid the controversy affecting to the Manila Bay white sand beach project.
“I would like to begin my statement with an apology to the UP as a whole. First, it is not intended to destroy the good name of the university itself, ”Antiporda said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel.
“This is just to send a message to UP MSI [Marine Science Institute] that we are partners here ”, he continued.
Antiporda previously lashed out at UP marine science experts, saying they “have no right” to criticize the Manila Bay beautification project, calling them “bayaran” for receiving millions in consultation fees.
“I apologize because yesterday I got carried away by emotions because it was a bit painful,” Antiporda admitted. “I am not a political person like that.”
(I apologize because yesterday I got carried away by my emotions because I got hurt. I’m not a political person, that’s why).
“We want something good for the people. When it comes to this project, before it was garbage, now it is sand, ”he continued.
(We want something good for people. When it comes to this project, it used to be full of garbage and now we have sand).
UP MSI director Laura David, who was also at the interview, accepted Antiporda’s apology saying that there is no “bad blood” between the two institutions.
“Wala naman pong bad blood between DENR and UP,” he said.
Meanwhile, Antiporda said UP experts should have first singled out the environment department before criticizing the Manila Bay project and publicizing it through the media.
“But in this situation, the kung saan po kami partners could have been designated as kaagad as soon as possible, saying mali kayo,” he said.
(But in this situation where we are partners, we could have been pointed out as soon as possible and reported the errors.)
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