Senator Loren Legarda has raised doubts over the relevance and scientific justification of the controversial Dolomite Beach project in Manila Bay, following the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) recent claim that it has worsened flooding along Taft Avenue.
“Simula pa nang ginawa ‘yung dolomite ay hindi ko nakikita kung anong kahalagahan ‘yan. Bakit natin gusto magka-white sand beach diyan. ‘Yan naman ay artificial at hindi dapat nilipat mula sa Kabisayaan hanggang sa Manila Bay,” said Legarda, a long-time environmental advocate.
While expressing support for beautification initiatives in general, Legarda stressed they must be rooted in science and sound environmental principles.
“Ako sa ngayon sa beautification, okay. Pero ang beautification na ayon sa siyensya. Pero hindi dapat yan ginawa. Pero yan ay isang tuldok lang sa maraming kababalaghan at hindi dapat ginagawa,” she added.
The MMDA recently identified the Dolomite Beach construction as a major contributor to persistent flooding in Manila, particularly along Taft Avenue. MMDA Chair Don Artes explained that the project led to the closure of three major drainage outfalls—Faura, Remedios, and Estero San Antonio Abad—forcing rainwater to pass through an undersized sewage treatment plant, resulting in frequent flooding during heavy rains.
The Dolomite Beach project, launched during the Duterte administration in 2020 and opened in 2022, aimed to enhance the visual and environmental quality of Manila Bay. However, environmental advocates have long criticized it as an ecologically unsound and costly endeavor, with its artificial white sand prone to being washed away during storms. The initiative reportedly cost taxpayers ₱389 million.