The Philippines' Water Pollution Crisis: A Solution, Effects of Water Pollution on

the Economy and Public Health

I. INTRODUCTION

Imagine learning that the water coming from every tap in your home, the
water you drink and use for bathing, contains poisons like mercury and waste. Imagine
for a moment that your local government was aware of these risks, but purposefully held
back from disclosing them until the majority of the individuals you knew and loved had
gotten sick. The Philippines are currently experiencing this hypothetical situation. Eight
percent of the nation's rivers are thought to be too hazardous for consumption or touch
by humans or animals, and include unable to support the majority of living forms. In
addition, less than half of the rivers in the world's the water in the Philippines is fit for
human consumption. Recently, pollutants discovered in there were both large and little
bodies of water in one tone-third of the disorders that were Philippines. Even more
unexpectedly, the government of the Philippine response to this epidemic stays
constrained. In-depth information about the water crisis in the Philippines is provided in
this paper, along with consequences and impacts on local residents' health, as well as
its effects on the regional and national economy. The next section offers the Philippine
government four possible courses of action: will discuss any negative effects of these
acts. This essay will choose a from among these possibilities, policy suggestion that will
compel the government to take notice to citizens' worries financing for educational
interventions from international environmental organizations programs that raise crisis
awareness. These campaigns would educate the public on where to locate clean water
to drink and what to do to prevent a water-borne sickness. Such Action enables the
Philippine government to take measures to safeguard its citizens while minimizing the
project's budgetary load.

II. BACKGROUND OF THE CASE STUDY

The Philippines, a country in Southeast Asia, is made up of 7,107

islands that are encircled by the Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, South China Sea, and
Celebes Sea. A tropical the islands environment makes it possible to grow rice, root
crops, sugar cane, and corn. Uses around 32% of the Philippines' total land area.
Philippines is merely a small country exporter of animals and agricultural products. The
islands export seafood, live fish, and processed fish, bananas, tree nuts, and exotic
fruits like coconuts. Although agriculture makes roughly one-third of global land area,
the overall landmass, manufacturing accounts for the majority of exported commodities.
highest export Products from the Philippines include semiconductors, computers,
woodworking, and integrated circuits. Major foreign buyers of Philippine products
include Japan, the United States, Hong Kong, China, or Singapore.
 Although trade has aided in the Philippines' economic growth, the
nation has seen several detrimental effects of globalization, including the contamination
of lakes and rivers becoming a significant source of worry. Hazardous chemicals are
currently being openly dumped by manufacturers into Laguna Lake and the Pasig River.
According to a Greenpeace article 50 of the 421 rivers in the area are deemed to be
biologically dead, which means that the rivers are incapable of supporting the majority
of species of life because they lack oxygen. According to the Management Bureau
(EMB), only 47 percent of the Philippines' 127 freshwater bodies preserve high-quality
water. Additionally, tests revealed that there was contamination with coliforms. Even
Manila, the nation's major city, which is traversed by the Marilao River was listed as one
of the Top 10 Most Polluted Rivers in the World by Soap box the ocean The annual cost
of the pollution crisis in the Philippines is estimated to be $1.3 billion USD. The local
water supply's high pollution level has had a detrimental effect on the quality of life in
this nation of Southeast Asia. Accidental chemical and oil spills as well as unlawful
waste disposal are to blame for the Philippines' water crisis. The existence of these
pollutants has had a significant influence on Filipinos' daily life.

III. SUMMARY OF THE CASE

The health of the Filipino population continues to deteriorate with

time. In the next five years approximately one-third of the span's deaths were caused by
waterborne pollutants. The Philippines diseases many waterborne bacteria and viruses
in drinking water contributes to the development of diseases like cholera, cholera, and
numerous skin ailments. In the fatty tissues of both people and other animals, poisons
accumulate over time termed as bioaccumulation, occurs in their body tissue. In cities
with poor sewage systems, there are high cancer death rates .In addition to harming
public health, water contamination also results in permanent harm to the surroundings.
Eutrophication is a frequent issue that happens when organic materials deposited into
the water reduce the amount of oxygen accessible, resulting in the blooming of
anaerobic algae. Other pollutants increase oxygen consumption, which stresses
particular organisms. While lowering the capacity to survive as a whole .Due to a
scarcity of oxygen in the lakes, River-dwelling animals, such fish, and species suffer
from rivers, ponds, and streams who rely on streams to go extinct.27 Pollutants can
also alter the physical qualities of the environment of actual water. The pH of the water
can change due to certain contaminants, which affects many plants and animals will
perish as a result of their inability to adapt to the changing pH balance. Water pollution
has a significant negative impact on local economies, and the Filipino economy is
particularly every time. When residents hygiene declines as a result of a shortage of
clean water for While taking a bath, they lose productivity. This is due to the fact that
taking a bath is a necessary basic necessity. in order for someone to devote the right
amount of time and energy to bigger tasks such as those at home, work, or school.
Especially necessary is for women and kids to walk further and exert more effort to
gather clean water, eating up time water that has degraded quality also has a
detrimental effect on the development of plants, animals, and overall soil quality,
causing to decreased crop production lower crop yields, decreased productivity, and
missing a reduced household income is the outcome of missing work because of illness.
Philippines water pollution increases the likelihood that residing in the Philippines will
lead to poverty. a reduction in increasing household income will probably pressure kids
to drop out of school income; nevertheless, a lack of education results in low salaries
and fewer opportunities, providing a twisted poverty cycle.

Large-scale water pollution is to blame for an outbreak a general

decline in public health inPhilippine Islands. Having poor health shortens life and
decreases labor productivity.a poverty trap brought on by poor health.The decline in life
expectancy results in due to the fact that there are fewer workers on the market and
each worker must work now assume greater responsibility, which results in a drop in the
caliber of the work. This reduction inthen, efficiency limits economic expansion. Lower
efficiency also results in lower salaries. Ultimately, this will result in a reduction in life
expectancy in the future years. a decrease in life expectancy arises from the
relationship between decreased income and the purchase of less essential
commodities, such as Food, clothing, and hygiene goods are in short supply, which
affects health. These undesirable usually, environmental effects start before birth.
Prenatal malnutrition can lead to cognitive and physical issues. If a pregnant woman
doesn't have access to she is exposed to pollution and dehydration without access to
clean water, and her unborn child is also vulnerable to injury. Having access to clean
water is crucial to preventing malnutrition and decreasing infant mortality. The
government can help by boosting its spending on either infrastructure or health. This
spending could influence the economy to improve health and work productivity in the
short term, while escape the poverty trap brought on by poor health in the long term. In
the Philippines, for instance, environmental organizations have assumed the initiative
on while the government has chosen to minimize its engagement, water infrastructure is
being improved.

IV.SOLUTIONS

The Clean Water Act of 2004 was enacted in the Philippines to

assist reduce future pollution of natural sources of pure water. With these reforms, the
Philippine government aimed to by imposing fines on pollutants, the area will feel more
responsible. the degree of the type of pollutant present such as organic, inorganic, and
stock determines the fine pollutants along with the category of the body of water in
which the pollution was discovered, such as rivers, streams, and other waterways. The
Clean Water Act delegated the authority to impose penalties to and enforcing water
regulations to the local governments. Despite repeatedly paying fines for pollution,
private firms may decide not to adopt water-conscious activities. The Fines for lake and
river pollution may only be a small portion of the price of establishing appropriate water
treatment and water waste disposal inside an organization. Since the fines are less
expensive than removing pollutants properly, businesses will opt to polluting should go
on. The Philippines has received aid from international groups, but the government
Measures fall short of stopping the spread of water pollution.

International groups have made an effort to lessen the effects of

water Philippine air pollution. The Manila Third Sewerage Project (MTSP), which ran
from 2004 to 2010, introduced as a means of lessening the pollution that was
accumulating in the Philippines, as well as expanding access to sanitary facilities and
clean water 40 MTSP implemented a variety of methods that would assist them in
achieving their aim. This work involved developing water treatment systems
infrastructure, which in turn sparked an increase in group urban renewal projects such
riverbank cleanup programs. Other achievements included enhancing facilities and
combining the installation or expansion of a sewer and drainage infrastructure,
decentralized sewage delivery, or fewer, more equally spaced out treatment facilities,
and the promotion of secure disposal of treated septage. For the metropolitan area, this
initiative was deemed highly successful Manila region. In 2012, MTSP raised the area's
sewerage coverage from 3% to 30%. More In addition, this effort boosted public
awareness, influencing 3.7 million individuals by the 3.7 million people the undertaking.
However, the MTSP's success was regionally constrained, as millions more the quality
of the water for Filipinos living outside the capital has not yet improved. In essence,
greater revenue will result in higher levels of environmental awareness and protection. If
the Philippines does nothing in the hopes of one day developing into a more affluent
country, the expense of undoing the harm caused by water contamination will be
insurmountable. Fortunately, a lot of the Philippine government has choices it can
explore in the near future to minimize consequences of water pollution.

V. RECOMMENDATIONS

Four criteria are used in this research to analyze different

policy possibilities. The initial need is that the most effective solution must be relatively
simple to put into practice. Budgetary restrictions on recognition of implementation is
required. Second, the strategy must be long-term cost-efficient. This will cut down on
future costs, potential waste, and other consequences from the lack of clean water
accessibility. Third, the best option should make an effort to connect with most, if not all,
each and every affected citizen. Access to clean water is a challenge on a national
scale, and as a result, everyone in the community is impacted and needs help. The final
option selected must strive for longevity, i.e., the choice must aim for a long-term
resolution to the issue at hand. These standards will make it easier to determine which
choice is the best one for the current crisis.
 The first course of action is for the government to start acting
right away by adding more water treatment facilities to the existing water sanitation
system. As a result, less water will be handled by each sewage plant, broadening the
extent of plant coverage. Reduced volume would enable the water treatment procedure
to be completed more thoroughly and would make ensuring that more Filipinos have
access to safe water. The expansion of water treatment facilities would lead to the
creation of both high-skilled and low-skill jobs, which is another advantage of this
strategy a community's economy. Additionally, improved septic management would be a
part of this option. Care for septic tanks, cleaning of drains, and other related tasks are
all part of septic management removing option. Care for septic tanks, cleaning of drains,
and other related tasks are all part of septic management replacing the tank and
removing the sludge accumulation many of the requirements of an ideal design would
be satisfied by this choice. Adding new water to the existing one long-term solution to
the issue can be achieved with a sanitation system. Proper Taking care of the water
supply would also avoid the need to rebuild the water sanitation system in the
upcoming. The potential financial burden of replacing the current system would be a
one-time expense that would increase all citizens' access to clean water. The main
disadvantage of this choice is the current price. The national debt would significantly
rise as a result of this multi-billion dollar plan , it would discourage the Philippine
administration from following this course of action in place of there are other more
affordable options available than spending a lot of money on just one prospective
answer ways to lessen the effects of water contamination.

An alternative course of action is to raise pollution penalties and deposit the proceeds in
the penalties into a fund set up for preventing water contamination. This is a fairly
comparable choice to the Philippines' current water policy in effect. However, raising the
penalties imposed If only polluters would contribute more money to assist in removing
the existing sludge buildup insidethe cesspools. Additionally, a sharp increase in fines
can entice privately owned manufacturing companies.to implement water-conscious
procedures as a long-term investment in the company's cost savings.

The alternative of raising environmental fees satisfies many of the

criteria, yet there are also have substantial downsides. Increasing fines for water
contamination is a reasonably cheap solution choice, and the money made might be
used to develop other long-term beneficial measures. If successful, solutions that are
widely adopted. However, this option's efficacy is not guaranteed. The timescale to
amass sufficient funds to support advancements in water sanitation is unknown.
Additionally, depending on this course of action could be a risky way to effect change. It
is the main compromise of this approach. This option would not be recommended due
to its possible inefficiency. failing to satisfy that condition because it doesn't affect the
majority of citizens A lesser cost associated with this one possibility is that paying less
to replace the septic system does not support proper waste disposal techniques water
removal this problem could be brought on by the purposeful efforts to stagnate the
amount of water to one day rise once more.

The Philippines' third course of action is to refer this issue to

international organizations. This does not automatically relieve the Philippine
government of its environmental obligations, responsibilities. Instead, the government
would provide grants for environmental programs endeavors to inform the Filipino
population about the water crisis because many Currently Filipinos use tainted water for
drinking and bathing in their daily lives. People could better appreciate the complexities
of this issue with the aid of education and water. Apart from These groups' educational
efforts would help the public comprehend the issue. Various techniques to prevent
pollution and strategies to provide access to clean drinking water prevention strategies
to stop the spread of water-borne illnesses, safety measures, among others, would be
explored disease all across the Philippines. Government's reliance on external
organizations has trade-offs that need to be weighed.

With this choice, the Philippine government would be forced to rely on

non-governmental organizations to help combat the disease. But this choice lessens the
amount of because government expenditure is constrained by the quantity of money
available , the government has decided to contribute to the effort. This approach could
potentially reach a large audience, whether or not the majority of people in a country
attend school. Posted on social media, and press releases from environmental
organizations about the initiative will acquire traction and be ability to communicate
information about the contaminated water's current situation. . With reference to the
advice provided by the organizations may encourage long-term changes in the behavior
of Filipino residents. This approach fails to provide immediate remedies for the high
quantities of pollutants currently prevalent in the Long-term reform will, however, be
most advantageous for the country's future in the area of water. As of now at some
point, preventative actions might be too late, and this choice doesn't deal with any
beneficial short-term remedies for the pollution of the water.

The Philippines' final course of action is to employ financial incentives

to encourage responsible use of water. Under this plan, the Philippines can provide tax
breaks to individuals, families, and businesses manufacturers will use technology that is
water-safe. Businesses and homes are likely to embrace water Thoughtful methods that
reduce water pollution emissions because they will cost less in the long run by
establishing these strategies, taxes are used to fund reforms that are environmentally
favorable. The long run, For those who can, these incentives will turn into cost-saving
strategies. Despite being attractive, tax incentives for making good decisions have
certain drawbacks regarding this policy choice.
 The provision of tax incentives for homes and manufacturers comes
with a number of problems who practice clean water habits. This option's shortcomings
include the fact that it is unclear how a lot of people and businesses will decide to take
advantage of these tax breaks. The majority if the Filipino government decides to
engage, they risk losing a significant amount of their tax money. Tax rises in other areas
could result from tax incentives for water-conscious technologies industries as a means
of making up the revenue shortfall. But on the other hand, it's probably the only the
households that qualify for these tax breaks are wealthy. A home must initially invest
money on altering their lighting in order to benefit from this long-term cost-saving
strategy existing water hygienic systems . For many of the lower-income citizens, this
financial load is unrealizable which makes up the majority of the Philippines. Even
though this choice satisfies the effectiveness criterion, it doesn't satisfy the additional
requirements for being a long-term fix, and it doesn't accomplish the bulk of people.
These compromises can serve as deterrents for the Philippines consider this choice, but
you must weigh all of your possibilities.

VI. Conclusion

Despite the fact that each policy choice has particular

shortcomings, the best workable alternative is to minimize government engagement and
entrust international organizations with the majority of the burden organizations like
Earth First and Greenpeace the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
The government of the Philippines has already offered meager support in a challenge of
water contamination. They should try to give grants to the international organizations.
Organizations that advocate for environmentally responsible behavior but make clear
who the donations are intended for be put to use for Filipinos' educational resources. At
this time, the government have the funds to upgrade all sewage and water systems or
to offer financial incentives, but Promoting openness and education could prevent
millions of deaths. Government officials should contact these groups with the
suggestion that they provide supplemental leadership for the reforms governmental
support. It is necessary to hold meetings to go over schedule, progress, and other
topics. This between the parties concerned and the release of the meeting minutes will
promote transparency. This procedure is likely to produce the intended outcomes.

People will discover how to access clean drinking water nearby

through these deeds to their residences and how their behaviors can affect the water
quality. People will learn how bad water quality has been caused by irresponsible
behavior on their small farms or in their residences quality, and potential effects on their
family from the major industrial nearby their town income and wellbeing. These groups'
intervention and the adoption of smart water techniques will be dispersed around the
area. Resources for those who suffer a waterborne illness there will be access to
diseases. . These organizations will promote knowledge of the diseases, as well as
what measures to take in order to become well once more. The people of the
Philippines have a right to clean water because it is a necessity. It is important for the
Filipino government to act now, before the damage done to their water sources
becomes irreversible.

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