Are you in the mood to get beaching? Well, you can now surf at La Union or other nearby seaside destinations as long as you present a RT-PCR test with a negative result. It’s best to research your destination of choice before getting in the car, and traveling.
If you’re in the mood to get some sea time without going far, you can head to Manila Bay’s “white-sand beach,” which is actually made from crushed dolomite boulders from Cebu. According to Spot.ph, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is “fast-tracking” the rehabilitation of Manila Bay in preparation for the reopening of the “white-sand beach” to the public in July.
This ‘white sand beach’ has been heavily criticized by the public for various reasons. According to Oceana, the largest international ocean conservation and advocacy organization that works to protect and restore the world’s oceans through targeted policy campaigns, the project is very ill-timed as a lot of Filipinos remain unvaccinated to date.
To add to this, the country has been struggling to fight the surge of COVID-19 cases. Given all the problems the nation is facing, the white sand beach project is said to be a waste of taxpayer resources.
In defense of the project, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the white sand beach of Manila bay is good for Filipino’s mental health. Alongside the picturesque Manila bay sunset, the site is a beauty to behold, as per Roque.
Over half a billion pesos of taxpayer money has been allotted for the Manila bay rehabilitation project, so if you have the time, you might as well check out where your taxes are going, right? You can assess for yourself if the white sand beach of Manila bay is good for your mental health or not.
