Editing Manila Bay (section)

=== Rehabilitation ===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Ph-mm-manila-malate - bay view (2014).JPG|right|thumb|250px|View of Manila Bay and [[Manila Yacht Club]] from Harbour Square.]] -->
Despite the issues generally associated with developing countries, such as poverty, over-population and food security, there is surprisingly a growing concern for the environmental vitality of Manila Bay.  Rehabilitation, which in this case refers to an attempt to improve an aquatic system and prevent further damage to the natural ecosystems,<ref name="cooke">G. Dennis Cooke (2005): Ecosystem Rehabilitation, Lake and Reservoir Management, 21:2, 218-221</ref> is a responsibility assumed both by government and non-government organizations.  The [[Supreme Court of the Philippines]] for example had issued the Metro Manila Development Authority an order to "demolish illegal structures and dwellings along riverbanks and waterways connected to Manila Bay by 2015" in March 2011<ref name="abs-cbn">{{cite news|date=March 4, 2011|title=SC wants concrete plan for Manila Bay cleanup|work=ABS-CBN News|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/metro-manila/03/04/11/sc-wants-concrete-plan-manila-bay-cleanup|access-date=September 23, 2011}}</ref> as an attempt to decrease mass occurrences of water pollution. Projects involving the wider communities include organization of the "Manila Bay Clean Up Run," which essentially supports the Philippine Environment Agencies with their objectives to raise funding and awareness towards the rehabilitation of Manila Bay's natural environments.

On January 27, 2019, the [[Department of Environment and Natural Resources]] started a rehabilitation program that is being administered by different government agencies.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Mayuga|first=Jonathan|date=January 14, 2019|title=DENR, 12 agencies to craft Manila Bay rehab plan|work=BusinessMirror|url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/denr-12-agencies-to-craft-manila-bay-rehab-plan/|access-date=January 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Santos, Tina G.|date=February 1, 2019|title=Manila Bay Still Unsafe For Bathers|publisher=Inquirer.net|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1080191/manila-bay-still-unsafe-for-bathers|access-date=February 1, 2019}}</ref> Because of the rehabilitation, the [[Philippine International Pyromusical Competition|10th Philippine International Pyromusical Competition]] that was scheduled on February 16, 2019, at the [[SM Mall of Asia]] bayside area was postponed before being moved to [[SM City Clark]] on February 23, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|date=March 19, 2019|title=The Biggest and Greatest Pyromusical Show Moves to SM City Clark!|url=https://www.smsupermalls.com/post/the-biggest-and-greatest-pyromusical-show-moves-to-sm-city-clark|publisher=[[SM Supermalls]]}}</ref>

====Beach nourishment====
{{Main|Manila Dolomite Beach}}
[[File:Manila_Bay_beach_(Roxas_Boulevard,_Manila;_09-19-2020)_wiki.jpg|thumb|left|The beach during its temporary opening in September 2020.]]
In the early September 2020, work began on Manila Bay Beach, which was constructed through the process of [[beach nourishment]], which a common practice in the creation of beaches around the world. It is part of an overall [[integrated coastal zone management]] aimed at [[Coastal management|coastal defense]] of the Manila Bay rehabilitation.<ref name="MGBDolomite Impact">{{cite news |url=https://mgb.gov.ph/2015-05-13-02-02-11/mgb-news/890-impact-of-the-use-of-dolomite-in-beach-nourishment-in-manila-bay |title=Impact of the Use of Dolomite in Beach Nourishment in Manila Bay |publisher=BusinessMirror |date=November 2, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020 }}</ref> When the Manila Bay Beach project came to wider public attention, the project has received criticism from environment and heritage conservationist groups. Among these include the timing of the project which was implemented amidst the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and concerns of adverse environmental effects caused by dumping [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]] on the polluted Manila Bay.<ref name="approved">{{cite news |last1=Perez-Rubio |first1=Bella |title=Palace: P389-M Manila Bay 'white sand' project approved prior to pandemic |url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/09/07/2040714/palace-p389-m-manila-bay-white-sand-project-approved-prior-pandemic |access-date=September 19, 2020 |work=The Philippine Star |date=September 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sabillo |first1=Kristine |title=Manila Bay sands project violates National Cultural Heritage Act, other laws - environmental groups |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/08/20/manila-bay-sands-project-violates-national-cultural-heritage-act-other-laws-environmental-groups |access-date=September 19, 2020 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=September 8, 2020}}</ref>

According to the [[Mines and Geosciences Bureau]], the project will benefit tourism, commerce and the environment. It will also protect coastal properties from erosion and storm surges, and [[beach nourishment]] is preferred over hard beach stabilizing structures (such as [[seawall]]s and [[groyne]]s).<ref name="MGBDolomite Impact" /> The [[Department of Health (Philippines)|Department of Health]] released a statement that the use of dolomite is not a known health hazard.<ref name="dolomitewont">{{cite news |last1=Hallare |first1=Katrina |title=Dolomite in Manila Bay 'white beach' won't cause health risks, DOH now says |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1333410/dolomite-in-manila-bay-white-beach-wont-cause-health-risks-doh-now-says |access-date=September 19, 2020 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=September 9, 2020}}</ref>

As with other [[beach nourishment]] projects, the area can serve as additional habitat for a number of species such as sea turtles, as well as sea birds and beach flora.<ref name="Beach Nourisment Benefits">{{cite book |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F1-4020-3301-X_2 |chapter=Beach Nourishment: Benefits, Theory and Case Examples |publisher=SpringerLink |doi=10.1007/1-4020-3301-X_2 |access-date=November 20, 2020 |title=Environmentally Friendly Coastal Protection |series=NATO Science Series |year=2005 |last1=Dean |first1=Robert G. |volume=53 |pages=25–40 |isbn=1-4020-3299-4 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stormingmedia.us/69/6983/A698382.html |title=Development and Evaluation of a Sea Turtle-Deflecting Hopper Dredge Draghead - Storming Media |access-date=2010-12-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629153848/http://www.stormingmedia.us/69/6983/A698382.html |archive-date=2011-06-29 }}</ref> When the beach was first opened to the public, a flock of [[egret]]s were seen at the beach area.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/metro/756364/egrets-drop-by-manila-bay-during-white-sands-project-opening/story/ |title=Egrets drop by Manila Bay during 'White Sands' project opening |publisher=GMA News |date=September 20, 2020 |access-date=December 22, 2020 }}</ref>

Water quality significantly improved, especially around the beach area. The DENR reported significant drop of [[fecal coliform]] level in the waters around the beach, from 2.2 million mpn/100ml last January 4, 2021 to 523,000 mpn/100 ml in February 2021, based on the average count from three monitoring stations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/2/18/DENR-records-significant-drop-in-Manila-Bay-s-coliform-level.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219042007/https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/2/18/DENR-records-significant-drop-in-Manila-Bay-s-coliform-level.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 19, 2021 |title=DENR records significant drop in Manila Bay's coliform level |last1=Yumol |first1=David Tristan |publisher=CNN Philippines |date=February 18, 2021 |access-date=April 8, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131068 |title=DENR records further decrease in Manila Bay coliform level |work=Philippine News Agency |date=February 18, 2021 |access-date=April 8, 2021 }}</ref>