Large crowds gathered to visit an artificial white sand beach which opened in the Philippines.<br /> <br />Excited locals waited in long lines without any social distancing to see the controversial beach in Manila Bay on September 20. <br /> <br />The portion of the bay, with a reported price tag of 398million pesos (8.2M USD) was cleaned and covered with crushed white rocks mined from another province.<br /> <br />Officials carried out the facelift in an effort ''beautify'' the heavily-polluted waterfront<br /> <br />Onlooker Karen Laurencio saw the long queues of people stretching over a footbridge over the main road on her way home after buying food at a market.<br /> <br />She said: "I know white sand is rare in the city, but it caused some quarantine violations. I am surprised by the number of people."<br /> <br />Another resident Luis Cerilo Jr, said he saw that the beach looks better now with the sand when he went to have a closer look after passing by the crowds on his way home.<br /> <br />He said: "For several years the place was full of garbage and smelly but now it is very beautiful."<br /> <br />The Manila Bay “white sand beach” was temporarily opened to the public during weekends this month, following its makeover involving “white sand” from crushed rocks of dolomite.<br /> <br />The rocks which angered environmental experts for its potential harmful impacts.
