Mariel Rodriguez and her husband Robin Padilla defended the controversial Manila Bay rehabilitation project of the government.
On Monday, Padilla who’s a known celebrity supporter of President Duterte defended the government’s decision to push thru the project despite the crisis happening in the country.
In his Instagram post, Padilla cited the Supreme Court decision in 2008 ordering the government to clean up Manila Bay.
“Bilang taxpayer, pipiliin ko na ang white sand kesa basura. Yun dolomite maaring pagtalunan pero yun basura 1million percent masama sa Inangkalikasan, sa ating kalusugan at sa lahat ng bagay. Wag naman nating ipagdamot sa ating mga kababayan na walang kakayahan makaranas ng boracay sa manila bay,” Padilla said.
“Free Relaxation and family bonding ay mental, emotional and physical Theraphy. Every Filipino deserves a swim, a sunrise and sunset by the beach,” he added.
His wife, Mariel Rodriguez then made a comment to Padilla’s post, criticizing the people opposing the project, asking why they only decided to be noisy now that the government was making efforts to clean Manila Bay.
“Nung puro basura walang nagrereklamo ngayon na pinaganda… can you believe it? Ngayon sila nag reklamo? Ang hindi ko maintindihan is lagi natin hinahanap kung saan napunta ang tax na binabayad natin.. ayan oh.. atleast yan nakikita natin diba. Tapos mah complain parin?” Rodriguez said.
Last weekend, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources opened Manila Bay to the public to showcase the beauty of the artificial white sand they put in the shore of the tourist spot.
The said white sand was made of crushed dolomite mined from Cebu province.
However, the 28-M peso project was criticized by some groups, questioning the safety of dolomite to the health of the people and the timing of the project.
Even Vice President Leni Robredo said that the government could feed many families using the money used for the project.