House committee to investigate Manila Bay Dolomite Beach Project starting Nov 17

The House committee on public accounts will investigate the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach Project starting November 17, focusing on its necessity, impact on flooding, and potential alternatives for Manila Bay's rehabilitation.

The probe will examine the project's alignment with the Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan and the Supreme Court's continuing mandamus.

Key areas of investigation include the project's effect on flooding in the Ermita-Malate districts and the status of critical drainage outfalls.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has pointed to the dolomite beach as a cause of severe flooding by blocking drainage outfalls during recent tropical cyclones.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) cited the need for scientific analysis and changing weather patterns as factors contributing to the floods, offering little comment on the MMDA's findings.