Pasig River: Is it too late?
Introduction:
Studies show that the Pasig River discharges 38,000 tons of plastic waste into the oceans. Water pollution is a ticking time bomb in our country that will surely cause environmental and social damage if untreated. To put into perspective how bad water pollution is in our country, according to Our World in Data, the Philippines accounts for more than one-third (36%) of ocean plastic inputs. According to the statistics, the Philippines is home to 7 of the 10 rivers that contribute most to ocean plastic pollution. These rivers are the Pasig River, Tullahan, Meycauayan, Pampanga, Libmanan, Rio Grande de Mindanao, and Agno River. Our country, despite its smaller size and population, managed to contribute an absurd amount of plastic into the ocean. With our country being one of the biggest contributors to water pollution in the world, it is important to take note of one of the most polluted water bodies in the world, which is the Pasig River. The Pasig River contributes 6.43% of global river plastics despite the river being relatively smaller than the rivers of China and India.
Main Issue:
Water pollution occurs when harmful substances — often chemicals or microorganisms — contaminate a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer, or other body of water, degrading water quality and rendering it toxic to humans or the environment (Denchak, 2023). To accurately tell if a body of water is polluted, the parameters to be determined are the physical (turbidity, color, temperature, taste, odor, solids, and electrical conductivity), chemical (pH levels, acidity, alkalinity, chlorine, hardness, and dissolved oxygen), and biological (bacteria, algae, and viruses). The major sources of water pollution are industrialization, agricultural activities, natural factors, inadequate water supply, and poor sewage treatment facilities. An example of a polluted body of water would be the Pasig River which is green in color, has a foul smell, and is uninhabitable by organisms.
Since the Pasig River is the world’s biggest contributor of plastic into the oceans, it should be one of the problems that the government and the people should put heavy consideration into resolving. The biggest problem of the Pasig River is the continuous direct discharge of untreated wastewater and solid wastes that continue to worsen the condition of the river. The river was already considered “dead” in the year 1990 because it was incapable of sustaining marine life. Despite being “dead”, the condition of the river continues to worsen and unfortunately affects the citizens living near it, causing health hazards. This crisis would have to involve all stakeholders to help each other rehabilitate the Pasig River and improve its condition, otherwise, it would lead to more viruses, diseases, and many other problems.
Plan of Action:
Implementing a comprehensive wastewater treatment infrastructure prevents the discharge of wastewater into rivers, encouraging companies and individuals to utilize the facilities for cleaning or recycling. This process eliminates polluted waters, contributing to the rehabilitation of the Pasig River. Treatment plants near rivers are equipped with advanced contaminant removal technology and an improved sewage system would collect and transport wastewater for recycling. The treatment process involves stages like sedimentation, biological treatment, disinfection, and sludge treatment. The infrastructure plan also includes clean-up drives, proposals for stricter regulations, and basic materials for citizen participation. Inspired by the Jean-R.-Marcotte Wastewater Treatment Plant, which collects 2.3 cubic meters per day (45% of Quebec’s wastewater), the infrastructure integrates successful treatment plants from other countries. Government funding, private company assistance, and DENR implementation are key elements for the plan to be successful. These stakeholders will be monitored by an outside corporation/company that would track the progress of the plan and if all stakeholders are living up to their responsibilities. In addition, collaboration with organizations supporting Pasig River initiatives enhances infrastructure implementation.
Stakeholders
Out of all these stakeholders, the main player in the rehabilitation program of the Pasig River is DENR. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is considered to be the lead agency in the Manila Bay Rehabilitation program. The DENR is one of the most important stakeholders in rehabilitating the Pasig River especially that the chairmanship of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) was transferred to the department in 2019 by President Rodrigo Duterte. This would mean they are the ones responsible for taking on the task of fixing the Pasig River. Also, DENR is responsible for conserving, managing, and developing the environmental status of our country. The situation of the Pasig River is the priority and duty of DENR. Since they are the “head” of the plan, they will be primarily in charge of implementing the wastewater infrastructure. This would mean they are the ones who will be planning, organizing, and implementing the solution on a larger scale. With all the resources that this department has been vested with, it is their responsibility to implement the plans and also monitor the situation of the Pasig River if it is to be rehabilitated.
Various stakeholders play crucial roles in rehabilitating the Pasig River. LGUs enforce the waste management practices, aid river-adjacent communities, and collaborate with diverse stakeholders to address concerns and implement plans. The MMDA coordinates activities such as waste management, clean-up drives, and infrastructure development. Companies bear the responsibility of sustainable waste treatment to prevent further river contamination, potentially creating internal infrastructure for waste management. NGOs collaborate with urban poor communities to enhance living conditions, address contamination effects, raise awareness, and engage with stakeholders for rehabilitation. Schools contribute by raising environmental awareness, educating students, participating in clean-up drives, and initiating awareness campaigns. Lawmakers play a crucial role in penalizing companies that persistently pollute the river and can institute stricter waste management regulations. Youth groups actively participate in clean-up drives, advocacy, and awareness campaigns. Communities directly engage in rehabilitation by organizing clean-up drives, initiating waste management projects, and collaborating with stakeholders. Each stakeholder’s involvement is essential for the Pasig River’s improvement, with inactivity from any one group hindering the achievement of the overall goal.
Conclusion:
The Philippines is already one of the largest contributors to the pollution of the oceans in the world and we should feel ashamed for this. We have allowed the situation of our water bodies to deteriorate further and eventually cause problems that even other countries are affected by. The Pasig River has now become an example of environmental degradation and pollution, something that was once an amazing waterway filled with aquatic organisms. We must strive to rehabilitate not only the Pasig River but also other water bodies that have been contaminated. We can do this by creating a comprehensive wastewater treatment infrastructure that will be headed by the DENR. It is by creating the infrastructure that we can start to fully rehabilitate the Pasig River as people and companies would not feel the need to dump their wastes in the river.
On a more personal level, this passion of protecting nature comes from living in the province. It made me realize the majestic beauty of the environment, from the green trees, the clear blue waters, and the blue skies. In a way, the state of the environment affected my well-being because of how the serenity of nature affects my mood. At an early age, I had felt a sense of responsibility in taking care of the environment, joining school organizations and initiatives that are centered on the protection of the environment. As I got older, the negative changes in the environment directly impacted me because no matter what I did to help the case of the environment, I still felt powerless because of the large-scale destruction that we see not only in the Philippines, but worldwide. But seeing the unfortunate case of the Pasig River, I would rather not give up on it, in contrast to how many people feel that its situation is too far gone.
Every Filipino should be concerned about the situation of the Pasig River. Our ignorance and irresponsibility led to the downfall of the Pasig River and eventually led to hazardous effects on the Filipino people. The situation of the Pasig River may be bad, but it does not mean we should treat it as an incurable disease. If we continue to contaminate not only the Pasig River, but also the different bodies of water in our country, not only will it be harmful to the environment, but it will also create a more toxic environment for the people. More deaths of aquatic organisms, the continuous spread of water-borne diseases, degradation of the ecosystem, and even depletion of clean, drinkable water would only be some of the effects that would occur if we continue to contaminate the Pasig River. Each individual has a role to play in contributing to the success of rehabilitating the Pasig River. In our own little ways, we can perform sustainable practices to help the river like throwing our waste in proper disposal areas. No matter how little the action is, it has a contribution to the betterment of the environment or for the worse.
Sources:
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