Top 5 Environmental

Problems in the
Philippines
OCTOBER 17, 2016 by SHERYL ANN DATUKON0
Having lived in the province for half of my life, Ive enjoyed the beauty of what Mother Nature
has to offer. A hike to the virgin mountains, a dip to the great waterfalls, a whiff of fresh air in
the morning and the cool weather are what my childhood memory is made of. My father was a
Forester then and I remember the times he and his team would visit different places to educate
the people regarding the preservation of our environment.

Sadly though, as cities and provinces develop, our natural resources are also compromised and it
doesnt stop there. Global warming has become one of the major problems worldwide since it
affects the whole planet and it slowly engulfs our world every minute. In the Philippines,
Filipinos are already feeling this effect. From low pressure typhoons, it has evolved into super
typhoons and some incidence of tornadoes. Monsoon rain warning elicits fear as it can bring
flash floods. Temperatures rise and our heat index has increased dramatically.

There is a long list of environmental issues but in reality, they are intertwined with each other
and needs serious attention from all of us.

1. Pollution
C: wikipedia
Pollution, in context, is the introduction of contaminants into the environment causing adverse
change. It is present through noise, air and water. As we produce more noise, it can interfere with
the behavior of certain animals in the eco-system. Also, on some studies, the effect of sound
waves turns into heat causing a slight change in the temperature of the environment. Air
pollution is what we can often see in urban places. Smoke belching vehicles and gases from
factories are the culprits in contributing to air pollution. On water pollution, incessant throwing
of garbage and inappropriate industrial waste disposal affects our bodies of water, which in turn
cause trouble in marine life.

2. Global warming due to emission of greenhouse gases

 C:
cloudfront.net
In almost any activity, we emit greenhouse gas such as using our electricity, cooking and driving
our cars. As we breathe out, we also produce carbon dioxide. The more people in a certain area,
the bigger carbon dioxide are emitted into the environment. As these gases are produce, it
generates heat causing a change in the climate.

3. Overpopulation
C: seppo.net
Overpopulation seeds into a lot of problems. With the need for new homes, the development of
new buildings, houses and establishments are in order. After which the demand for electricity,
food and other greenhouse gases also increases. Scarcity of food can be experienced due to the
limited ability of the animals to populate fast. Thus, dishonest people nowadays resort to using
chemicals and medications to boost and fake the growth of these animals. Overpopulation also
means having more garbage to dispose.

4. Natural resources depletion

C: togetherforgood.com
Mining and quarrying has become rampant over the years and are to be blamed for destroying
the beauty of our environment. Among the natural resources that we have, water, oil and forests
are the top three on the list. Fresh water, in reality, is only 2.5% of the worlds total water
volume. If the problems affecting our bodies of water continue, the demand for drinking water
will increase causing water shortage and worse, famine. Oil, on the other hand, is used every day
for transportation of goods and electricity. Lastly, according to statistics, deforestation
contributes an estimate of 12% to 17% of greenhouse gas emission per year. Trees emit oxygen
and filter the air. But with lesser trees, flash floods are likely to happen.

5. Waste disposal
C: enlightenme.com
Improper waste disposal creates a hazardous problem to everyone. It may infect people not only
physically but through the air and water. Garbage thrown in the rivers and canals may not only
block our waterways but it invites rodents to infect the water and soon be transferred to humans.
Clogged waterways have a tendency to spill causing flash floods, which is what is happening
here in our country. Likewise, the lack of enough dumpsites and landfills is also a hindrance in
helping to solve our garbage management crisis.

WHAT CAN WE DO
C: cexp.com
These environmental problems can attract disaster anytime. What we can do as citizens is to do
what we can to alleviate these problems. Simple acts like cleaning, recycling and planting trees
are always a good start. Also, strict implementation of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid
Waste Management Act of 2000 should be made. There is also a need to educate and instill
discipline to people. Let us help rebuild our nation and our world. Let us save our Mother Earth
before it is too late.

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