04/11/2025
Ridon on troll attacks vs Dolomite Beach probe: ‘wala akong paki…kabahan na kayo’
By Ronald Siongco/GDM
Bicol Saro party-list Representative and House Committee on Public Accounts chairperson Atty. Terry Ridon fires back at online trolls over ‘attacks’ against his panel’s upcoming legislative inquiry into the Dolomite Beach project.
“Wala akong pakialam kung ano man yung troll attacks. Kahit araw-arawin niyo ako, kahit oras-oras, minu-minuto kayo maglabas ng troll attacks dito sa Dolomite Beach project investigation na ito, tuloy yung hearing sa November 17. So, kabahan na kayo,” says Ridon in an online interview streamed on November 3, 2025.
The lawmaker points out they aim to determine if it’s really necessary considering ‘a minimum of P300 million to as high as P500 million’ was supposedly spent for this.
“Bakit nila pinilit,” he asks, stressing it was not part of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Master Plan nor was it mentioned in the Supreme Court (SC) writ of continuing mandamus on the rehabilitation of Manila Bay.
“Improvement of the water quality ang laging pinag-uusapan doon. Ibig sabihin, yung project na kailangan mong gawin diyan, ano yung project that will improve the water quality. So anong example doon? Paglalatag ng mga mangroves, pangalawa paglalatag ng mga sewage treatment plants doon sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng Manila Bay kasi it will actually improve the water quality of Manila Bay,” he says.
Ridon is also claiming the Dolomite Beach project was one of the reasons behind the flooding in Metro Manila.
He says they are eyeing to invite officials from the Department of Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Economy and Planning (DEPDev, formerly NEDA), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and City Government of Manila possibly including Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso to attend their hearing.
Pressed if the so-called ‘Dolomiters’ should fear this investigation, Ridon replies, “Well, I think they should.”
“Siyempre, we will have to know sino talaga yung origin. We are not even talking about kung merong kickback dito at this point. Ang gusto lang natin malaman in that first hearing yung necessity of the project. Kinailangan ba talaga ito,” he says.
The Dolomite Beach project started under the term of then President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as part of the Manila Bay Rehabilitation Program launched by then DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu.
A portion of Manila Bay underwent ‘beach nourishment’ that involved dolomite overlaying transforming it into a scenic white sand beach in 2020.
PNA PHOTO: Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach
