The House of Representatives will begin its probe into the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach Project on November 17, 2025. The investigation will be led by the House Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon, to determine if the controversial beach project was necessary and compliant with legal and environmental requirements.
The first hearing will assess the project’s alignment with the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan and the Supreme Court’s Continuing Mandamus on Manila Bay’s rehabilitation. Ridon said the committee will also verify if the artificial beach worsened flooding in nearby areas like Ermita and Malate by obstructing major drainage systems such as Faura, Remedios, and Estero de San Antonio Abad.
The committee will review technical specifications and potential structural flaws that may have altered natural water flow. Ridon confirmed that the investigation will also consider alternative interventions to clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay while improving water quality for recreation, in line with Supreme Court directives.
The inquiry follows House Resolution No. 56, filed by Ridon last July 16, calling for a formal review of the dolomite project amid unaddressed environmental concerns.
Experts from the UP Marine Science Institute and the group Agham earlier urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to release environmental and fisheries impact assessments.
They warned that the project’s effects on marine habitats, sediment movement, and water quality remain unexamined and could endanger the bay’s ecosystem.
