Ched Rick Gatchalian

Workers spread white sand along a portion of the Baywalk in Manila Bay on September 3, 2020 as part of the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program by the DENR. The white sand, which comes from Cebu, will be spread from the banks of the bay near the US Embassy to the Yacht Club. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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House panel chair says Manila Bay dolomite beach inquiry 'not about former President' Duterte

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176233465622820200903-manila-bay-white-sand-jc-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Workers spread white sand along a portion of the Baywalk in Manila Bay on September 3, 2020 as part of the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program by the DENR. The white sand, which comes from Cebu, will be spread from the banks of the bay near the US Embassy to the Yacht Club. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News MANILA  — House Committee on Public Accounts Chairperson Terry Ridon denied on Wednesday that his panel’s probe into the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach Project is targeting former President Rodrigo Duterte.</div>Ridon also belied Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte’s claim that the investigation is politically-motivated and part of alleged efforts to “cover up” other national issues, including the alleged corruption in the government.Duterte earlier commented on the Dolomite probe, saying some are &quot;making an issue&quot; over Manila Bay and are dragging his father to &quot;destroy&quot; him because of politics.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/3/house-panel-set-to-begin-inquiry-into-manila-bay-dolomite-beach-project-1326">House panel set to begin inquiry into Manila Bay dolomite beach project</a></div>The House panel chair however stressed that the probe into the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach Project is part of the oversight powers of Congress.“Tuloy naman ‘yung lahat ng mga investigation sa flood control. So, there is no diversion. But again, to be very clear, this is not about the former president,” Ridon said.“Kasama naman po talaga sa trabaho ng Kongreso ‘yung oversight. Para malaman mo kung kinailangan ba talagang pondohan ‘yung proyektong ito... Pangalawa, kung mayroon po bang kumita at kumickback dito sa proyektong ito,” he added.The House panel inquiry into the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach Project is set to begin on November 19th.ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio earlier expressed support to the congressional probe, stating that the project has to be investigated since it utilized millions despite &quot;not [being] a true rehabilitation of Manila Bay.&quot;“Well, I think it’s positive and it’s about time that we reveal that this project was truly useless, it was started by the past administration, in the middle of the pandemic, using over P600 million, but it is not even a true rehabilitation of Manila Bay,” Tinio said.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/09/09/20/preventing-another-tragedy-why-cebu-province-banned-dolomite-mining">Preventing another tragedy: Why Cebu province banned dolomite mining</a></div>Ridon said the first hearing will focus on the project’s necessity based on the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan and the Supreme Court’s Continuing Mandamus for the rehabilitation of Manila Bay,.It will also examine the project’s flooding impact on adjacent Ermita–Malate areas, including the situation in Faura, Remedios, and Estero de San Antonio Abad drainage outfalls.The committee will also look at available alternative interventions and solutions to further “clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay,” and improve its water quality “to make it fit for swimming, skin-diving, and other forms of contact recreation”, according to Ridon.

“Kasama naman po talaga sa trabaho ng Kongreso ‘yung oversight. Para malaman mo kung kinailangan ba talagang pondohan ‘yung proyektong ito... Pangalawa, kung mayroon po bang kumita at kumickback dito sa proyektong ito,” Ridon said.

“Kasama naman po talaga sa trabaho ng Kongreso ‘yung oversight. Para malaman mo kung kinailangan ba talagang pondohan ‘yung proyektong ito... Pangalawa, kung mayroon po bang kumita at kumickback dito sa proyektong ito,” Ridon said.

House panel chair says Manila Bay dolomite beach inquiry 'not about' former President Duterte

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House panel chair says Manila Bay dolomite beach inquiry 'not about' former President Duterte

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 05, 2025 05:51 PM PHT

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House of Representatives

Dolomite beach

Manila Bay Dolomite Probe

Rehabilitation

Reclamation

Terry Ridon

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