A congressional investigation is set to begin in mid-November regarding the controversial Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach project, with lawmakers questioning whether the project was necessary and properly implemented.
The inquiry, spearheaded by the House Committee on Public Accounts chaired by Rep. Terry Ridon (Bicol Saro Party-list), will examine the project’s alignment with the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan, the 2008 Supreme Court mandamus for Manila Bay rehabilitation, and its engineering and environmental impacts.
Key items for scrutiny include:
- Whether the P389-million project was included in approved master-planning documents.
- Allegations that the dolomite overlay blocked major drainage outfalls (Faura, Remedios, Estero de San Antonio Abad) and worsened flooding in Ermita–Malate.
- Alternative interventions that might have better served water-quality and coastal-protection goals.
The invited agencies include the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the City of Manila government.