Climate Change Causing Metro Floods,according to DENR; Dolomite Beach Unrelated?
In the heart of Metro Manila, a contentious issue has arisen over a beach rehabilitation project along Manila Bay. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) initiated the dolomite beach project in 2020, using crushed dolomite rocks to create a new stretch of shoreline. However, the project has been met with criticism and accusations, particularly from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and some lawmakers.
The MMDA Chairman, Romando Artes, and Director Mark Navarro, have stated that the dolomite beach rehabilitation project is blocking the drainage system, potentially worsening flooding conditions during heavy rains. This assertion, however, has not been scientifically validated with hydrological studies publicly available.
The DENR, on the other hand, attributes increased flooding to heavier rainfall trends driven by climate change rather than the dolomite beach itself. They advocate for urban drainage redesign and green infrastructure for flood mitigation.
The controversy surrounding the project extends beyond flooding concerns. The UP Marine Science Institute has conducted research focusing on sediment transport and environmental effects of dolomite, but no direct hydrological study connects the project to flood events or drainage blockage.
Critics, such as Bicol Saro Representative Terry Ridon, have raised concerns about the project's necessity, cost, and contribution to flooding. In a resolution seeking a House probe, Ridon aims to investigate these issues, potentially leading to graft charges but pending formal findings.
The DENR has emphasized the need for science-based analysis in assessing the causes of flooding, given the influence of changing weather patterns due to climate change. Despite the ongoing debate, there is currently no conclusive scientific evidence proving that Manila's dolomite beach project directly contributes to flooding in Metro Manila.
As the city grapples with the first year of the pandemic and the challenges of climate change, the debate over the dolomite beach project continues, with both sides calling for more evidence and investigation to support their claims. The future of the project hangs in the balance, with the potential to significantly impact Metro Manila's flood mitigation efforts and environmental health.
[1] DENR statement on flooding and the dolomite beach project: [link] [2] UP Marine Science Institute research on sediment transport and dolomite: [link] [3] MMDA comments on the dolomite beach project and flooding: [link] [4] Resolution seeking a House probe into the dolomite beach project: [link] [5] DENR response to accusations of graft related to the dolomite beach project: [link]
- The DENR argues that climate change, rather than the dolomite beach project, contributes to increased flooding in Metro Manila, advocating for urban drainage redesign and green infrastructure for flood mitigation.
- Critics, such as Bicol Saro Representative Terry Ridon, are calling for investigations into the necessity, cost, and potential contribution of the dolomite beach project to flooding, while pending formal findings to support any graft charges.
