The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) claims that the “white sand” being poured to create a beach on a stretch of Manila Bay’s rocky shore poses no harm to the bay’s ecosystem, but independent safety reports by foreign contractors point out that dolomite — the rock pulverized to produce the false white sand — can cause respiratory ailments and is a potential carcinogen. In an interview with the Inquirer on Sunday, maritime affairs expert and University of the Philippines law professor Jay Batongbacal said the reports from US contractors about the potential harm the dolomite being poured on a 500-meter stretch of Manila Bay’s shore could be ground for filing a petition for a writ of kalikasan, a legal remedy to halt projects potentially damaging to the environment.

Subingsubing, K. (2020, September 7). Kalikasan writ eyed against 'Manila Beach'. Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. A1, A2.