BORGEN Magazine is produced by The Borgen Project, an influential humanitarian

organization working to make global poverty a focus of U.S. foreign policy.

BORGEN MAGAZINE
WRITER: RHONDA MARRONE

Water Pollution
in the Philippines
BY CHRISTIAN S. GALOPE
4TH YEAR - BS CIVIL ENGINEERING
JUNE 27, 2017
Major Claim
"Increased population,
urbanization,
agriculture and
industrialization have
all reduced the quality
of water in the
Philippines."

One of the most alarming things

reports is that out of the
Philippines 421 rivers, as many
as 50 are considered dead and
unable to support any but the
most robust life.
 ON ITS WEBSITE, GREENPEACE REPORTS THE WATER POLLUTION IN THE
PHILIPPINES IS MOSTLY WASTEWATER FROM THE FOLLOWING SOURCES:

1. Industrial: The metal varies according to

industry lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium
and cyanide.

2. Agricultural: Organic decayed plants,

dead animals, livestock manure, soil
runoff; and non-organic pesticides and
Greenpeace is an
fertilizers.
independent global
campaigning organisation
that acts to change 3. Domestic sewage: Contains pathogens that
attitudes and behaviour, threaten human health and life.
to protect and conserve
the environment and to 4. Other sources: Oil, mine or chemical spills
promote peace.
and illegal dumping in or near water.
wikipedia.org
 IS THE EVIDENCE
BASED ON
OBSERVATIONS?
According to WEPA (Water Environment Partnership in
Asia), water pollutions effects cost the Philippines
approximately $1.3 billion annually. The government
continues to try to clean up the problem, implementing
fines to polluters as well as environmental taxes, but
many problems have not been addressed.
 IS THE ARGUMENT
FOR THE CLAIM
LOGICAL?
According to government monitoring data, up to 58
percent of the groundwater tested was contaminated with
coliform, and approximately one-third of illnesses
monitored during a five-year period were caused by
water-borne sources. In addition to this, during the dry
season, many areas experience water shortages.
Major Claim: Accepted
or Rejected?
Increased population,
urbanization,
agriculture and
industrialization have
all reduced the
quality of water in the
Philippines.
 Major Claim:
Accepted !
Increased population,
urbanization,
agriculture and
industrialization have
all reduced the
quality of water in the
Philippines.

TOTALLY ACCEPTED!!!
 Greenpeace has been working to
develop a solution to water pollution
in the Philippines. The organization
supports the Clean Production
context in which the public has a
right to know which toxins they are
exposed to in their daily lives.
REFERENCES
MAIN ARTICLE:
Marrone, R. (2016, December 14). Water Pollution in the Philippines:
Causes and Solutions. Retrieved June 25, 2017, from
http://www.borgenmagazine.com/water-pollution-in-the-philippines/
About us. (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2017, from
http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/ph/About-us/

Pictures:
CitiesTips.com. (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2017, from
http://www.citiestips.com/city/MarilaoPhilippines
(n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2017, from http://do-you-know-
about.blogspot.com/2009/09/manila-bay-pollution.html
Posts about Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission on CHS-SACHETAN.
(n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2017, from
https://chssachetan.wordpress.com/tag/pasig-river-rehabilitation-
commission/
 THANK YOU!
Water Pollution in the Philippines