Bronte Wells
The Philippines has been struggling with pollution for decades. The country's journey towards industrialisation has seen numerous phases that have contributed to its air quality issues. During the rapid industrial expansion in the 20th century, factories and vehicles emitting harmful pollutants began to saturate the air. Today, urban centres like Manila have become hot spots for air pollution, with residents suffering from high levels of pollutants that threaten public health and the environment. The COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 saw a dramatic drop in pollution levels in Metro Manila, but pollution levels have been steadily increasing since the lockdown finished.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Start of pollution in the Philippines | 18th century; intensified in the 20th century |
| Main causes of air pollution | Vehicular emissions, industrial activities, burning of fossil fuels |
| Areas with highest air pollution levels | Metro Manila, Meycauayan, Bulacan |
| Health impacts | Asthma, chronic bronchitis, respiratory conditions |
| Water pollution | 58% of groundwater contaminated due to untreated wastewater |
| Plastic pollution | Ranked as the world's biggest ocean plastic polluter in 2019 |
| Deforestation | Forest cover decreased from 70% to 20% in the 20th century |
| Government initiatives | Clean Air Act of 1999, Extended Producer Responsibility Act (EPRA) in 2022 |
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What You'll Learn
The Clean Air Act of 1999
The Philippines has been struggling with environmental issues for decades, with air pollution being one of the country's top concerns. The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 was enacted to address this issue and improve air quality.
The Act is administered by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which acts as the lead agency. The DENR is responsible for preparing a National Air Quality Status Report, which serves as the foundation for formulating the Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework. The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) plays a crucial role in addressing industrial and vehicle emissions. They collect regular emission fees and implement emission standards for motor vehicles. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Energy (DOE) also collaborate to improve fuel composition and reduce emissions.
The Clean Air Act encourages cooperation and self-regulation among citizens and industries. It emphasizes the importance of pollution prevention rather than merely controlling it. To achieve this, the Act promotes public information and education, encouraging an informed and active public to participate in air quality planning and monitoring. The Department of Education (DepEd) and other agencies are tasked with encouraging participation from various sectors, including government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector, to create a multi-sectoral campaign.
The Act also includes a system of accountability for adverse environmental impacts. This involves setting up funding for clean-up and environmental rehabilitation and compensation for personal damages. Additionally, the Act aims to develop an action plan to control and manage air pollution from motor vehicles, with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) taking the lead in establishing a National Research Development Program for the prevention and control of air pollution.
While the Clean Air Act of 1999 was a step forward, it has been criticized for being outdated and in need of improvement. Air pollution in the Philippines continues to be a critical issue, with urban centres like Manila suffering from high levels of pollutants that pose significant health risks to residents.
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Industrialisation and urbanisation
The Philippines has been struggling with pollution for decades. The country's journey towards industrialisation and urbanisation has significantly contributed to its air quality issues. During the 20th century, the Philippines underwent rapid industrial expansion, with factories and vehicles emitting harmful pollutants that saturated the air. This problem persists today, with urban centres like Manila becoming hot spots for air pollution, exposing residents to respiratory issues and threatening public health and the environment.
The Philippines' history of Spanish colonisation has left it vulnerable to the repercussions of climate change and unable to overcome issues like natural disasters and environmental degradation. The country's lack of biodiversity further exacerbates its susceptibility to the impacts of climate change.
The Philippines has a significant problem with water pollution, mainly due to untreated domestic and industrial wastewater. The Pasig River, which runs through the capital city of Manila, is one of the world's most polluted rivers, receiving 150 tons of domestic waste and 75 tons of industrial waste daily. This contamination of water resources leads to severe health risks and negatively impacts the fishing and tourism industries.
Population growth and urbanisation have intensified the pollution problem in the Philippines. As more people migrate to cities, the demand for transportation and energy increases, resulting in higher emissions. The transportation sector is the leading contributor to air pollution, with a high number of vehicles running on diesel and gasoline. Jeepneys alone account for a substantial portion of transportation emissions and air particulate matter in Manila.
To address air pollution, the Philippines implemented the Clean Air Act of 1999. However, this legislation is outdated and requires improvement. Reducing emissions and improving environmental conditions are crucial to promoting sustainable growth and mitigating the adverse consequences of climate change. Community initiatives, public awareness, and policy measures such as stricter emissions standards and the adoption of cleaner technologies are all vital components of the solution.
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Water pollution
The Philippines has been struggling with environmental issues for a long time. The country's history of Spanish colonisation, rapid industrialisation, and resource exploitation has led to a range of problems, including water pollution.
The country's pervasive poverty also contributes to plastic pollution. Filipinos often purchase goods in smaller quantities and single-use packaging, leading to a buildup of plastic waste. Additionally, those without access to safe drinking water resort to buying bottled water, and the empty bottles end up in water bodies, contributing to the plastic problem.
Greenpeace reports that the primary sources of water pollution in the Philippines are wastewater and industrial and agricultural waste. The Pasig River, which runs through Manila, is one of the world's most polluted rivers, receiving an estimated 150 tons of domestic waste and 75 tons of industrial waste daily. The government has attempted to address this issue by implementing fines and environmental taxes, and in 2008, Manila Water announced plans to construct a wastewater treatment plant in Taguig.
The World Bank has also assisted in tackling sewage wastewater issues in Manila Bay through the Manila Third Sewerage Project (MTSP). This project provided thousands of connections to water and sewage, de-sludged septic tanks, and educated over 3.5 million people through a public information campaign.
According to government monitoring data, up to 58% of groundwater tested was contaminated, and about one-third of illnesses monitored over five years were linked to waterborne sources. The lack of access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation facilities has severe health, economic, and environmental consequences, impacting fishing and tourism industries.
The Philippines' biodiversity is also at risk due to water pollution, with data showing a decline in the quality of water in streams feeding into Laguna de Bay, the country's largest lake.
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Plastic pollution
The Philippines' vast network of rivers is a major contributor to ocean plastic pollution. A 2021 study revealed that 80% of plastic waste in the oceans originates from rivers, and seven of the top ten plastic-polluted rivers globally are in the Philippines. The Pasig River, for instance, was ranked 8th globally, discharging an estimated 3.88 x 10^4 tonnes of plastic into the ocean annually. The country's 4820 rivers discharge approximately 356,371 million metric tonnes of plastic waste into the sea each year, posing severe threats to marine life.
The lack of proper disposal facilities and government inaction are also significant factors in the plastic pollution crisis. While the Philippines implemented the Waste Management Act in 2001 to address solid waste issues, the country has struggled to meet the outlined targets. Additionally, 70% of Filipinos lack access to disposal facilities, leading to plastic waste being directly discarded into oceans. The government has been criticised for failing to enforce existing waste disposal laws effectively.
To combat plastic pollution, there have been calls for increased collaboration between producers, retailers, and waste management companies. The Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability (PARMS) has taken initiatives, such as partnering with Mondelez International to construct a recycling facility. The government has also enacted the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022, requiring enterprises to develop and implement plastic packaging waste reduction programmes. However, more comprehensive empirical data and enforcement of regulations are needed to address the plastic pollution crisis effectively.
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Deforestation
While there is limited data on the history of deforestation in the Philippines, it is known that around 90% of the Philippines was forested in the 16th century during the early years of Spanish colonisation. By the early era of American colonisation in 1903, this figure had declined to 70%. After World War II in 1950, forest cover in the country further declined to 50%, with the country's population increasing to 20 million.
Over the course of the 20th century, the forest cover of the Philippines dropped from 70% down to 20%. According to the IBON Foundation, deforestation is caused by logging, mining, and land conversion for corporate agriculture, cash crops, real estate, and infrastructure. The Philippines has experienced rapid population growth, and under the regime of Ferdinand Marcos, unregulated logging concessions were handed out to senior military officials, cronies, and relatives. Forests resources were exploited by set-up companies and reforestation was rarely undertaken. Log production increased from 6.3 million cubic metres in 1960 to an average of 10.5 million cubic metres between 1968 and 1975, peaking at over 15 million cubic metres in 1975.
The IBON Foundation cites the allocation of one million hectares for palm oil plantations in Mindanao as an example of land conversion for corporate agriculture. The Build, Build, Build infrastructure projects are also expected to destroy forests, water sources, farms, and livelihoods, and displace local communities. Destructive typhoons in the Philippines, such as Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, also cause deforestation and defoliation.
To combat deforestation, the Philippine government has implemented reforestation projects such as the National Greening Program. Legislation to protect existing forests has also been proposed and enacted, while non-governmental organizations, Indigenous communities, and the private sector conduct tree-planting activities in various parts of the country.
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Frequently asked questions
Air pollution in the Philippines is largely caused by vehicular emissions and the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil. The country's rapid industrialization and urbanization have contributed significantly to its air quality issues. Transportation is the leading contributor to air pollution, with a high number of vehicles running on diesel and gasoline.
Water pollution is also a significant issue, with untreated domestic and industrial wastewater contaminating 58% of the country's groundwater.
Plastic pollution is another severe problem, with the Philippines being responsible for the largest share of global plastic waste discarded in the ocean in 2019.
Pollution has led to major economic and human health losses in the Philippines. Air pollution alone accounts for over 66,000 premature deaths and costs over USD 44 billion annually. The high levels of pollutants in the air threaten public health, with residents of polluted cities experiencing increasing rates of asthma, chronic bronchitis, and other respiratory conditions.
Water pollution has severe health consequences and also negatively impacts the fishing and tourism industries.
The Philippine government introduced the Clean Air Act in 1999 to monitor and prevent air pollution. However, this legislation has been criticized as outdated and in need of improvement. Cities like Cebu have implemented policies like the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system to reduce reliance on private vehicles.
Community initiatives and grassroots movements play a vital role in promoting tree planting, waste management, and the use of renewable energy.
To tackle water pollution, the government has sought to introduce sustainable water resources development management since 2004, and a wastewater treatment plant was announced for construction in Taguig in 2008.
Regarding plastic pollution, the government introduced the Extended Producer Responsibility Act (EPRA) in 2022, but enforcement of laws remains a challenge.
