(The Manila Times) FISHERS’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Tuesday urged Environment Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga to order the permanent closure of the controversial Dolomite Beach in Manila after the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) blamed the pumping stations attached to the synthetic white beach as the main cause of flooding in some parts of Manila amid the heavy rains.

“This is all the more reason to demand the immediate shutdown of this ill-conceived project. Not only did it cost us hundreds of millions, but the dolomite beach has proven to be environmentally unfeasible and a disaster,” Pamalakaya National Chairman Fernando Hicap said.

He called on the new leadership of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to heed their call and probe its previous officials who were behind the project.

“DENR Secretary Yulo-Loyzaga should acknowledge that the dolomite beach is a farce and an ultimate failure. She should totally scrap this project and instead focus on actual restoration of marine biodiversity of Manila Bay,” he added.