Culture
MMDA Points to Dolomite Beach for Worsening Floods in Metro Manila
But the DENR isn't convinced that its project is to blame.
Published on Jul 18, 2025
(SPOT.ph) Flooding is a familiar scene during rainy season in Manila, but lately it feels like things are getting worse. The Metropolitan
Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is claiming that the Dolomite Beach might be one of the reasons why. Yup, it's the beach we never want to revisit but here we are.
According to MMDA Chairman Romando Artes, the artificial
shoreline has blocked key drainage outfalls—Padre Faura, Remedios, and Estero de San Antonio Abad—that were previously used to channel floodwater
straight into Manila Bay. Now that they're closed, the wastewater has been diverted to a sewage treatment plant (STP) to clean it before being released.
“Nung ginawa ang Dolomite Beach, sinarhan
itong tatlong outfalls na ito, in-intercept ‘yung tubig at pinadaan sa sewage
treatment plant para paglabas ng tubig ay malinis,” Artes said during a press briefing. “Naging observation naming
pag tag-ulan, ‘yung sewage treatment plant ay hindi kaya i-convey palabas ng
Manila Bay ‘yung tubig kaya naiipon.”
In other words, the STP can’t handle the volume of floodwater during the rainy season, which results in a buildup that makes locations like Taft Avenue and Ermita even more prone to flooding.
Click to Enlarge
Screenshot from Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
To ease the pressure, a floodgate near the Manila Yacht Club was temporarily opened on July 17 to let excess water out into Manila Bay. Artes said the MMDA will eventually revert to the original setup (i.e. routing water through the STP) once the monsoon season ends.
Without new drainage routes, the MMDA warned that floods like the ones seen earlier this July could become the norm during heavy rains. The agency has identified 49 flood-prone areas in Metro Manila, including G. Araneta Avenue and Banawe Street, EDSA near Camp Aguinaldo, Maysilo Circle, España Boulevard, and Taft Avenue.
DENR: Climate change to blame for flooding
The Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR) appears to disagree with the MMDA’s assessment. Although
it did not directly respond to the claims on Dolomite Beach—a DENR project—it did issue a statement that climate change is the more significant factor behind recent flooding.
"Assessing the causes of flooding must be rooted in science-based analysis, particularly in light of changing weather patterns influenced by climate change," DENR said in a statement. "Meteorological data over the past decade indicates a striking increase in rainfall volume, attributed to climate change. This noticeable shift in weather patterns has exacerbated the challenges faced by urban areas like Metro Manila, where heavy rainfall can overwhelm drainage systems and lead to significant flooding."
Even so, this newfound issue on Dolomite Beach has drawn the
attention of lawmakers. Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon filed
a House resolution seeking a probe into whether the P389-million Dolomite Beach
bypassed key environmental and planning safeguards—and if it was even part of
the original Manila Bay rehabilitation blueprint approved by the National Economic
and Development Authority (NEDA) in the first place.
"To be clear, the dolomite
project was never part of the NEDA approved Manila Bay Rehabilitation Master
Plan. This was publicly admitted by the DENR during congressional budget
deliberations in 2020," Ridon claimed in a statement.
A flagship
project of the Duterte administration, the Dolomite Beach has become one of the most polarizing sights in the city: P389 million worth of white sand was dumped on
the baywalk at the height of a pandemic. It was pitched as part of a cleanup
effort but was widely criticized for its high cost, environmental concerns, and long-term
sustainability. Despite the criticism, the beach was expanded and reopened in
2022.
Micah believes that writing is always political. Beyond the byline, you’ll find her bruising herself in a pole studio or napping with her beagle. Reach her at micah@spot.ph.
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