Meghan Hodges
The Pasig River in the Philippines is considered one of the most polluted rivers in the world. The river, which cuts through the Philippine capital of Manila, was once a vital trade route, but now suffers from severe pollution due to urbanization, poor sewage planning, and the dumping of garbage and waste. The pollution of the Pasig River is not an isolated case in the Philippines, as the country struggles with plastic pollution and government mismanagement, contributing significantly to ocean plastic pollution. Despite these challenges, efforts are being made to clean up the Pasig River and address the broader issue of water pollution in the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the river | Pasig River |
| River length | 27 km (16.8 miles) |
| Location | Manila, Mandaluyong, Makati, and Pasig |
| Causes of pollution | Garbage, untreated domestic and industrial sewage, plastic waste |
| Government initiatives | Waste Management Act, rehabilitation works, proper waste segregation practices, wastewater treatment plant |
| Groups involved in cleaning efforts | "River warriors", Greenpeace Philippines, Pasig environmental activists |
| Impact of pollution | Health problems, negative effects on fishing and tourism industries, ocean plastic pollution, coral reef disease |
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What You'll Learn
Pasig River: the most polluted river in the Philippines
The Pasig River, which runs through Metro Manila, is the most polluted river in the Philippines. It is also considered one of the most polluted rivers in the world. The 27-kilometre river was once a vital trade route, but now it is a dumping ground for garbage and waste deposits.
The main sources of pollution in the Pasig River are garbage and untreated domestic and industrial sewage. The river is filled with tonnes of domestic and industrial waste, and the mercury level in the river is 100 times more than the legal amount. The river also collects plastic waste, with plastic bottles and rubber slippers commonly found floating on the water. According to a study by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Pasig River is the largest contributor of plastic waste to the world's oceans, accounting for 63,000 tons of plastic entering oceans from rivers per year. The Philippines alone contributes a third of the global ocean plastic that comes from Asian rivers, and the Pasig River alone provides up to 6.43% of this waste.
The pollution of the Pasig River has severe consequences for the people of the Philippines. It causes serious health problems and issues in the fishing and tourism industries. The river's pollution is also detrimental to the environment, fuelling climate change, biodiversity loss, and ocean degradation, threatening ecosystems, public health, and livelihoods. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that only 5% of the population is connected to a sewage system, with most wastewater being discharged untreated into the river.
Efforts are being made to clean up the Pasig River. A group of "river warriors" has been working to clear the garbage from the river, filling sacks of trash in an endless pursuit to clean the waterway. The government has also recognised the problem and has introduced initiatives such as the Waste Management Act to tackle the nation's solid waste problem. Additionally, a wastewater treatment plant was announced in 2008, and the government has mobilised $3.17 billion to combat plastic pollution and improve the livelihoods of informal waste workers. The Pasig River rehabilitation project aims to extract 50,000 metric tons of silt and solid waste per month from the river using advanced and specialised equipment.
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Plastic pollution: the leading cause of polluted rivers
The Pasig River, which runs through Metro Manila, is the most polluted river in the Philippines. It is also the world's most polluting river when it comes to plastic, contributing 63,000 tons of plastic to the ocean annually. Urbanisation and poor sewage planning have left the river highly polluted. The main source of pollution is garbage and untreated domestic and industrial sewage.
The Philippines is the world's biggest ocean plastic polluter, responsible for 36.38% of global oceanic plastic waste in 2019. The country is projected to generate 7,415,202 tons of mismanaged waste by 2025 and has been ranked as the top contributor to oceanic plastic pollution. A 2021 report by Oxford University's Our World in Data estimated that Asian rivers contribute 81% of global ocean plastic, with the Philippines alone contributing a third of that total.
The Philippines' unique culture of consuming products in small quantities, known as "tingi culture," has contributed significantly to plastic waste. Large corporations have exploited the country's widespread poverty by offering palm-sized packages of products, further exacerbating plastic pollution. Sachets and food packaging dominate the litter found in rivers and on riverbanks, with riverbanks showing the highest plastic pollution densities.
The Philippine government has recognised the problem of plastic pollution and is taking steps to address it. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is mandated to oversee the conservation, preservation, protection, and management of the environment. The government has also introduced programmes such as the "Adopt-an-estero Water Body Program" and the "Manila Bay Clean-up Program," which focus on cleaning up rivers, waterways, and coastal areas. Additionally, the House Bill No. 9147 or the "Single-Use Plastics Products Regulation Act" aims to phase out single-use plastics and implement producer responsibility schemes.
Despite these efforts, plastic pollution remains a significant issue in the Philippines, with rivers being a major source of plastic waste in the oceans. The Pasig River rehabilitation project, described as the "largest-ever river rehabilitation project in the country", aims to extract 50,000 metric tons of silt and solid waste per month from the river. "River warriors," a group of about 100 people, come together daily to rake out plastic and rubbish from the Pasig River, working to clear the glut of garbage.
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Poor government intervention: a contributor to plastic pollution
The Philippines is responsible for a significant amount of plastic pollution, with the Pasig River being the largest contributor of plastic waste to the world's oceans. The country's plastic pollution problem is attributed to various factors, including population growth, urbanisation, and poor government intervention. Poor government intervention refers to the failure to properly enforce laws and the lack of coordination between government agencies.
The Philippine government has been criticised for having good laws surrounding waste disposal but failing to enforce them effectively. For example, in 2001, the government established the Waste Management Act to tackle solid waste problems through measures such as prohibiting open dumps and implementing systematic waste segregation. However, two decades later, the Commission on Audit reported a steady increase in waste generation. This indicates that the intended outcomes of the Act were not achieved, and waste management continues to be a challenge.
Another example of poor government intervention is the issue of untreated residential waste flowing directly into water bodies. According to statistics, only 20-30% of households in Metro Manila are connected to a sewerage system. This has led to rivers like the Marilao and Pasig becoming highly polluted with untreated domestic and industrial sewage. The government's lack of enforcement of waste disposal laws and poor sewage planning have contributed to the severe pollution in these rivers.
The government's response to plastic pollution has also been inadequate. Despite recognising the problem and introducing initiatives such as the Boracay rehabilitation project, more stringent measures are needed to address the scale of the issue. The government should focus on reducing single-use plastics, strengthening law enforcement on waste disposal, and improving sewage treatment infrastructure.
The Pasig River rehabilitation project, dubbed the "largest-ever river rehabilitation project in the country", aims to extract 50,000 metric tons of silt and solid waste per month using advanced equipment. However, this project is a response to the river's severe pollution rather than a preventative measure. The government needs to take more proactive and comprehensive approaches to tackle plastic pollution before it occurs, rather than solely focusing on clean-up efforts.
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River Warriors: a group of volunteers cleaning the Pasig River
The Pasig River in Manila, Philippines, is one of the world's most polluted rivers. The river's pollution is caused by garbage and untreated domestic and industrial sewage. Urbanization and poor sewage planning have left the river highly polluted.
The River Warriors are a group of volunteers founded over a decade ago with the sole purpose of picking up garbage in and around the Pasig River. The group consists of about 100 people who work to clear the garbage floating or washed up along the 27 km (16.8-mile) river. The river cuts through the Philippine capital and was once a vital trade route.
The River Warriors wear rubber boots and elbow-length gloves and use rakes and handmade tools to scoop rubbish from the river's stagnant waters. They operate in small groups at different parts of the river, collecting an average of 80 to 100 sacks of trash per day, and more during the monsoon season. Most of the trash collected is plastic wrappers, single-use sachets, and packaging materials, with surgical face masks sometimes found among the garbage since the pandemic.
The River Warriors started off as volunteers but now receive a basic income from the local government. Their work is challenging, but they remain optimistic about the future: "This has been our advocacy, to have the river cleaned for the sake of our children, our parents, our nation, and mother nature", said activist and River Warrior, Angelita Imperio.
The River Warriors are not the only group working to clean and rehabilitate the Pasig River. The government has also recognized the problem and has sought to introduce sustainable water development management since 2004. In 2006, the first wetland complex was built in the Philippines, serving about 700 households in Bayawan City. In March 2008, Manila Water announced that a wastewater treatment plant would be built in Taguig.
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Sewage planning: the lack of proper sewage systems
The Pasig River in Manila is considered the most polluted river in the Philippines. It is also one of the most polluted rivers in the world, with plastic waste being a significant issue. Urbanisation and poor sewage planning have contributed to the river's pollution.
The Philippines faces significant challenges with its sewage systems, with more than 20 million Filipinos lacking access to proper sanitation and sewage facilities. This issue is not unique to the Pasig River but is symptomatic of a nationwide problem. Only about 4% to 10% of the population is connected to sewerage systems, with the majority using flush toilets connected to septic tanks. The lack of centralised sewage treatment plants results in most wastewater being discharged untreated, contributing to river pollution.
The consequences of inadequate sewage systems are severe. In addition to environmental degradation, the lack of proper sewage systems has led to serious public health risks and economic losses. According to a 2008 World Bank study, the economic impact of poor sanitation in the Philippines amounts to over P78 billion annually, with 71% of this attributed to health impacts. It is estimated that 55 people die daily from diseases caused by inadequate sanitation and sewage facilities.
Community-led initiatives, such as the ""river warriors"" who clean the Pasig River, play a vital role in addressing the symptoms of this issue. However, a more comprehensive solution is required to address the underlying problem. The National Sewerage and Septage Management Program (NSSMP) aims to provide the entire country with proper sewerage and septage systems. This includes investing in infrastructure like sewage pipelines and wastewater treatment facilities. Nevertheless, financial and physical constraints present challenges in implementing individual household sewer line connections.
The Philippine government has set a goal of achieving universal coverage of water and sanitation services by 2028. To accomplish this, sustainable strategies and a comprehensive review of wastewater management policies are necessary. Localised solutions, such as decentralised treatment systems and Constructed Wetlands (CWs), can be effective and low-cost Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for rural and underserved urban areas. Additionally, stronger government oversight, tighter enforcement of regulations, and increased collaboration between the public and private sectors are needed to ensure real progress in improving the country's sewage systems.
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Frequently asked questions
The Pasig River is the most polluted river in the Philippines. It is also one of the most polluted rivers in the world.
The main source of pollution in the Pasig River is garbage and untreated domestic and industrial sewage. Plastic pollution is a significant issue in the Philippines, with the country contributing the largest share of global plastic waste discarded in the ocean in 2019.
A group of "river warriors" has been working to clear the garbage from the Pasig River, and the government has also recognized the problem and introduced initiatives to improve waste management and reduce pollution. For example, the government established the Waste Management Act in 2001 to tackle solid waste problems and has invested in wastewater treatment plants and wetland complexes.
