Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon has clarified that his proposal to investigate the Manila Bay dolomite beach project is not aimed at former President Rodrigo Duterte, but instead seeks to assess the project’s compliance with environmental mandates and its impact on flooding in Manila.
Ridon issued the clarification after Vice President Sara Duterte questioned the intention behind the proposed inquiry, saying she would not be surprised if everything her father did as president would be investigated under the current administration.
Speaking in an interview with ANC, Ridon emphasized that the planned probe is not political. “It’s a very reasonable accountability measure that is not targeted at the former president,” he said. “It is specifically targeted at environment officials who had originally planned and implemented this dolomite beach project.”
The P389-million artificial beach, built using crushed dolomite rock during the Duterte administration, has drawn criticism from environmental groups and city officials. Ridon said the inquiry will examine whether the project adhered to the Supreme Court’s 2008 Mandamus Order, which directed 13 government agencies to rehabilitate Manila Bay.
“Was the dolomite beach actually in pursuit of the Supreme Court’s continuing mandamus to basically… improve the water quality of Manila Bay? The inquiry will center on that,” Ridon said.
He also raised concerns about the project’s role in worsening flooding in the city, pointing out that three major drainage outfalls in Manila—Faura, Remedios, and Padre Faura—were reportedly closed as part of the beach construction. “As a result, we are questioning firstly the necessity of the project from the get-go, second, the cost of the project, and thirdly, the actual impact of the dolomite beach project on the flooding in the city of Manila,” he added.
In response, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) acknowledged that flooding is a growing challenge in Metro Manila, mainly due to changing climate patterns. In a statement, the agency emphasized the need for science-based analysis to identify the actual causes of urban flooding, citing climate change as a significant contributing factor.
The House probe, if approved, is expected to proceed when the 20th Congress opens.
