Work continued on Manila Bay's white sand beach, notwithstanding the furor it stirred among environment groups. The view at dusk on Wednesday gave a preview of what its proponents hope to achieve, the capital's iconic sunset and beach sand that rivals Boracay.
Earlier this week, the Cebu provincial government halted mining in Alcoy town for dolomite, a sedimentary rock that is pulverized to simulate the white sand experience on Manila Bay. The mining threatened the habitat of the Siloy, an andangered bird species, a legal consultant for Cebu said.
At a hearing in Congress on Wednesday, Environment Sec. Roy Cimatu said the ground dolomite was too small to be inhaled by humans and is therefore not hazardous. The health department also clarified its earlier statement that dolomite particles when ingested, could cause "minor" health issues such as an upset stomach.
Here are pictures taken on Sept. 9, 2020 by photographer Jerome Ascaño.
