Hundreds of tonnes of artificial sand used to cover polluted beach in the Philippines
Hundreds of tonnes of artificial sand used to cover polluted beach in the Philippines

Onlookers gathered to watch trucks dump artificial white sand to cover the polluted black surface of Manila Bay in the Philippines.

Juan Carlo Nievera was jogging along the bay when he passed by the controversial beautification project on September 1.

He said: "Huge trucks dump the sand here all day.

The bay looks better now, but I'm curious what will happen to the sand after the storm hits." The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is pouring 500 tonnes of crushed dolomite rocks to give the shore a "white sand makeover." The project started following months of clean up drives along the bay which has become notorious for its foul smell and garbage.

The agency shipped crushed dolomite rocks, worth a reported 398 million pesos (USD 8.17million), into the country's capital that were mined hundreds of miles away in Cebu Province.

Dolomite is a non-metallic material used in manufacturing bricks, mortar, cement, concrete, plastics, paving materials, and other construction materials.

However, the project has become controversial after other government agencies expressed concerns for its questionable health risks and unnecessary expenditures during the pandemic.

The Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that dolomite can cause respiratory and other health problems. She said: "If it will penetrate the eyes, there will be irritation.

If this is ingested, it can cause discomfort in the gastrointestinal system, and there will be pain in the stomach and diarrhea." The Department of Education (DepEd) also expressed their disapproval saying that the funds could have helped buy gadgets for the students and teachers now that the country has shifted to online classes during the pandemic.

But DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said the agency will push through with the beautification project despite criticisms. He said: "If you will look at it, this is also a sort of awareness to all people.

We know that people don’t want white areas to get dirty."