Sue DENR execs over dolomite beach overcrowding
By Nidz Godino
“I am calling IATF charge those people in DENR violating our rules…if we cannot implement it in their offices, then there is no point to implement it sa mga taumbayan ,” Manila Mayor Isko Moreno called on government task force against COVID-19 to file complaints against Environment department officials over last weekend’s overcrowding at Manila Bay’s dolomite beach.
In a television interview, Moreno, a presidential aspirant in the 2022 elections, said it is the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) which has control over the area.
IATF refers to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, government’s policy-making body in addressing COVID-19 pandemic.
Moreno also called on all the member agencies of the IATF to charge their colleagues in the national government over violation of COVID-19 health protocols during the dolomite beach incident.
Moreno said he had warned some DENR personnel that the city government might conduct arrests if health protocols are not observed during the opening of the dolomite beach.
“I told them that if the protocols are not observed then we might as well arrest each other but we don’t do that, we try to be rational and reasonable,” he said.
At the Palace briefing, DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said he has yet to personally hear about Moreno’s challenge to the IATF.
He admitted shortcoming on the part of the DENR but added that this was addressed immediately.
“They were saying that there was a violation of social distancing protocol…it was addressed immediately… it was a little shortcoming but we were able to act on it.”
DENR announced that children 11 years old and below will no longer be allowed entry to the dolomite beach.
The DENR, as well as the police, recently drew flak after the artificial white sand area along Manila Bay drew large crowds over the weekend, including small children, despite the pandemic.
Manila Police District chief Police Brigadier General Leo Francisco said total of 65,000 visitors came to the dolomite beach on Sunday.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar said more policemen will be deployed to the area to help ensure crowd control.
DENR clarified age restrictions for visitors of Manila Bay’s dolomite beach.
At a Palace briefing, DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said children 11 years old and below will not be allowed entry to the area.
The DENR earlier announced that those 12 years old and below will not be allowed entry. Antiporda said this was due to “confusion” when the policy is being tackled by concerned DENR officials.
There was confusion because it was initially based on the order that 12 to 17 years old can now be vaccinated against COVID-19. Now, we are correcting the information. Those 11 years old and below are not allowed at Dolomite beach.
Meanwhile, in a tweet, the DENR said dolomite beach will be closed from October 29 to November 3 in observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days.
The Manila Bay management also earlier said dolomite beach will be closed every Friday for maintenance, and will limit the entry of people in the artificial beach to avoid increasing the risk of coronavirus infection.
The DENR, as well as the police, recently drew flak after the artificial white sand area along Manila Bay drew large crowds over the weekend, including small children.
This development raised concerns that it can lead to a superspreader event amid the pandemic.
In response Eleazar said more policemen will be deployed to the area to help ensure crowd control.
On Sunday, the PNP said authorities temporarily stopped entry of visitors when the crowd reached 4,000.
At the Laging Handa public briefing on Monday, Manila Police District chief Police Brigadier General Leo Francisco said that a total of 65,000 visitors came to the dolomite beach on Sunday.
ISKUP! 