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- This was after photos of the fishkill in the area went viral.
- Undersecretary Benny Antiporda was also criticized after he used goldfish in a tank as proof that the dolomite has nothing to do with the fishkill.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is currently in the hot seat after several photos of the Manila Bay portion near Baseco Compound were found to have turned gradient brown to light brown with hundreds of dead fish floating near the said area.
“Ngayon ka mapapaisip.. namumuti yung dagat tapos ang daming patay na isda, saan to galing?” Facebook user Ghine Nequia asked.
Netizens immediately speculated that it was the result of the government’s project to dump crushed dolomite near the shoreline along Roxas Boulevard.
DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda then visited the site to inspect the area. A netizen called him out on the way he was “inspecting” the sediment.
“When I did my Master’s thesis on water quality including sediment transport, I don’t remember ‘inspecting’ sand/sediment by simply holding them,” Christ Orozco said.
When I did my Master’s thesis on water quality including sediment transport, I don’t remember “inspecting” sand/sediment by simply holding them. There’s what we call in-situ physico-chemical characterization aside from what is being done in the lab. https://t.co/O3lfIS34yb
— Christ Orozco (@xtianorozco) September 17, 2020
Another netizen called out the same thing.
https://twitter.com/kriyanocyte/status/1306807440302891008
Antiporda was also criticized after he put the crushed dolomite sand in an aquarium with dish to prove that the fishkill in Manila Bay is not connected to the rehabilitation project.
You can tap experts para mas madali. https://t.co/uBwxvKhCcy
— AltABSCBN (@AltABSCBN) September 18, 2020
“Dolomite interrupts water PH levels,” Macoy Dubs wrote in a tweet.
Sis I am a fishkeeper for 17 years and trust me namamatay ang isda kapag unstable ang water parameters. Be it ammonia poisoning, nitrate/nitrite spike. Dolomite interrupts water PH levels kaloka https://t.co/3O9OSIeVG6
— Macoy Dubs (@macoydubs1) September 18, 2020
Other netizens pointed out that there are still so many factors to be considered as the type of water that the dolomite was dumped in.
Tanga lang? Ahhaha malamang di rin parehas yung tubig. Daming factors na icoconsider + yung reaction ng dolomite sand nyo sa manila bay nyemas https://t.co/F7JMtBGFUa
— dora (@doracrybaby) September 18, 2020
Parang di to papasa sa thesis defense https://t.co/fYRjUyE206
— Jai Cabajar (@jaicabajar) September 18, 2020
For humans, dolomite can cause stomach irritation, constipation, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The environmental group Oceana Philippines also said that since the sand is not naturally from the bay, it could destroy the natural ecosystem of Manila Bay.
Marine scientists also explained that sediment in the water could make it turbid or opaque which can pollute the water and may “stress” the fish in the sea.
