Just within the day when authorities opened a portion of the Manila Bay coastline to the public to demonstrate the viability of using crushed dolomite, large crowds flocked the area to get a glimpse of the apparent ‘white sand’. Moreover, photos of large crowds drew different reactions from netizens, especially that the current situation calls for social distancing.
Moreover, Filipino ingenuity has sparked #TheDolomiteChallenge. A photo of a large crowd in an overpass against a photo of someone on the beach has become viral. To date, there may be thousands of netizens participating in #TheDolomiteChallenge.
It may be recalled that the Manila Bay beautification sparked controversy after total costs amounted to Php 28 million. It may also be recalled that the use of dolomite was questioned after environmental groups claimed that the move was just to improve aesthetics and has little to do with rehabilitation.
Manila Bay is a 60 km semi-enclosed estuary and is considered as the country’s major center for economic activity such as shipping, fishing, aquaculture, and tourism activities. It is also known for its polluted waters – thus the move for rehabilitation.
