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"The ongoing infrastructural transformations in the Manila Bay area, such as massive reclamation projects and the construction of the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan, raise concerns about their impact on the already vulnerable environmental conditions" (Romero, 2023).

Romero, S. E. (2023, August 8). Floods: The new epidemic. INQUIRER.net. https://opinion.inquirer.net/165386/floods-the-new-epidemic

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The recent flooding of the North Luzon Expressway in San Simon, Pampanga, serves as a wake-up call to the worsening environmental situation in the area. This region is part of the Candaba Swamp, which

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What it might not survive are the harmful human activities that have turned it into Metro Manila’s dump site. Sewage from households, industries, and agriculture flows untreated and unchecked into the bay, bringing with it solid wastes such as plastic products and food scraps, polluting the water, and causing the coastline to overflow with trash. But more than the water pollution, experts said that government-sanctioned seabed quarrying has caused massive damages and losses in the bay’s fishing grounds and marine resources. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 2023, para. 5)

Philippine Daily Inquirer. (2023, February 5). Manila Bay’s fight for life. INQUIRER.net. https://opinion.inquirer.net/160830/manila-bays-fight-for-life

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Manila Bay is not dead. But whether it is barely living or has a healthy ecosystem is another matter. And whether it thrives or dies is up to government.

Since 2000, per the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), there have been 12 oil spills in Manila Bay, which also serves as a port. Together with the discharges from industries and cargo ships that dock at the port, DENR said these oil spills have increased the presence of oil and grease in the water. DENR's fisheries bureau has found traces of metals including copper, cadmium, and zinc coming from the bay's seabed-and because they have reduced the oxygen in the water, they have made the bay inhabitable for marine life. Fishermen have been told not to fish there because Manila Bay is supposedly dead.

But those who have been fishing in the bay have refuted this claim as reported in this paper last Jan. 31. They can still fish there, the fisherfolk said, with recent catch including "alubaybay," a sardine variety that they would salt and dry then sell. Aside from fish, a 160 square meter coral garden was also discovered by volunteer divers in Ternate, Cavite, in June 2021. Then in February 2022 during a cleanup activity, coastal rangers of the Manila Baywalk found a sea hare and its eggs, as well as a file snake along the shore of the controversial dolomite beach. These are further proof that the bay, known for its beautiful sunset views, is very much alive.

Manila Bay, which covers the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Rizal, and Tarlac, has a rich history. It has witnessed and survived historic battles such as the Battles of La Naval de Manila that ended Dutch attempts to seize the Philippines, the Battle of Manila Bay during the Philippine-American War, and World War II that destroyed its fortified islands like Corregidor.

What it might not survive are the harmful human activities that have turned it into Metro Manila's dump site. Sewage from households, industries, and agriculture flows untreated and unchecked into the bay, bringing with it solid wastes such as plastic products and food scraps, polluting the water, and causing the coastline to overflow with trash. But more than the water pollution, experts said that government-sanctioned seabed quarrying has caused massive damages and losses in the bay's fishing grounds and marine resources.

These destructive activities, the many years of neglect, and willful ignorance about the need to rehabilitate it beyond cosmetic work on but a small portion like in the case of the dolomite beach are tantamount to deliberately killing Manila Bay. Despite petitions and pleas from environmental activists to rehabilitate the bay through clean-up, conservation, and restoration of marine ecosystems, the government has instead green-lighted reclamation projects that are seen to worsen its environment, threaten its survival, and ruin its ecosystem and biodiversity for good. There are at least 21 reclamation projects that have been approved and three more are in the pipeline - these will occupy 9,000 hectares of the sea and which, environmentalists have warned, could cause more flooding in places like Cavite and Las Piñas. It was revealed in a Senate hearing last year that many of these projects - that include the construction of an international airport, an expressway, and commercial and residential areas-were approved without proper consultation with stakeholders.

Oceana cited reasons why Manila Bay must be saved: 1) it is the center of biodiversity with over eight species of shellfish and 50 species of fish, including a newly-discovered species of sardines called Sardinella pacifica; 2) it serves as a stopover for different species of migratory birds that seek shelter in its wetlands, particularly the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area where the country's endemic ducks also seek refuge; 3) it has fruit-bearing mangroves including Sonneratia caseolaris whose fruit called mangrove apple ("palapat") is used to make jams, tarts, candies, vinegar, and as a souring agent in sinigang and paksiw. However, these mangroves that help prevent erosion and absorb the impact of storms have been reduced to around 734 hectares from 74,000 hectares at the start of the 20th century.

The seabed quarrying and reclamation projects are not consistent with any rehabilitation effort. They will in fact cause irreversible damage to the bay's ecosystems, displace communities whose livelihood depends on it, and make cities and towns across three regions more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The DENR should put a stop to these reclamation and seabed quarrying activities unless it is the government's deliberate intent to murder the bay in favor of big business under the guise of development. It is ironic that while progressive countries are working toward environmental sustainability, the Philippines is destroying a very important ecosystem instead of helping it stay alive.

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Manila Bay is not dead. But whether it is barely living or has a healthy ecosystem is another matter. And whether it thrives or dies is up to government. Since 2000, per the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), there have been 12 oil spills in Manila Bay, which also serves as a port.

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Earthwatch Europe. (2020, November 4). Nature-based solutions for natural flood management [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F6M3RWsJH0

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Nature-based solutions for natural flood management

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World Bank. (2019). Water Pollution Cycle. [Infographics]
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/infographic/2019/08/20/water-pollution-cycle

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"Supporters of the Alternative Minerals Management Bill previously cited the need for its urgent passage to prevent possible mine spills that would damage the lives of residents living near mining sites" (Chi, 2023).

Chi C. (2023, March 6) Group urges Marcos to end 'plunder of resources' by large-scale mining firms. PhilStar Global., https://www.philstar.com/headlines/climate-and-environment/2023/03/06/2249718/group-urges-marcos-end-plunder-resources-large-scale-mining-firms

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Cristina Chi - Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines - After two communities formed barricades against mining firms in February, Alyansa Tigil Mina has called on President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. to put a stop to illegal mining operations that wreak havoc on the environment and surrounding areas.

The nationwide alliance of anti-mining advocates began its weeklong commemoration of the 28th anniversary of the passage of the Mining Act of 1995 with a demand for Marcos to halt the activities of companies involved in large-scale mining, especially those that dispensed with government permits in conducting its operations.

"We call on the PBBM administration to listen to the demand of the people, especially those holding barricades in Sibuyan, Romblon; Brooke's Point, Palawan and Brgy. Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya," said Jaybee Garganera, a national coordinator of ATM.

"Our natural resources should be protected and preserved and not subjected to exploitation and corruption," Garganera added.

Mining-affected communities in Sibuyan Island and Brooke's Point, Palawan set up barricades in February to block the entry of mining firms which they say profit off of natural resources while exposing nearby residents, including indigenous persons, to health hazards.

Elizabeth Ibanez, coordinator of Sibuyanons Against Mining, called for the cancellation of the Mineral Product Sharing Agreement (MPSA) of Altai Philippine Mining Corporation in Sibuyan Island, Romblon.

"To allow mining in Sibuyan, which is known to be the Galapagos of Asia, is unacceptable. Large-scale mining will drastically and negatively impact the rich biodiversity of our region as well as affect the livelihood of our people," Ibanez said.

Meanwhile, Brooke's Point, Palawan Vice Mayor Jean Feliciano echoed the demand to DENR to cancel the MPSA of Ipilan Nickel Corporation for reportedly worsening the flash floods in the area due to its deforestation and nickel ore extraction.

"We are already experiencing the harsh effects of mining as our communities were damaged by flash floods, which we suspect are due to mining. We do not want mining in the region, and the government must respect our decision to determine for ourselves our development programs."

Repeal Mining Act to prevent disasters

The group has also called to repeal the Mining Act of the Philippines and replace it with another measure that prohibits mining in critical areas, imposes tighter regulations on mining firms and allocates portions of mining companies' revenue to local governments.

The Alternative Minerals Management Bill (AMMB) is "anchored in the climate discourse (and) situates mining within the country's aspiration for a low-carbon development pathway," said Maya Quirino of SOS Yamang Bayan Network, a group calling to reform the country's mining regulations.

Supporters of the Alternative Minerals Management Bill previously cited the need for its urgent passage to prevent possible mine spills that would damage the lives of residents living near mining sites.

One case is the Marcopper Mining Corporation's disastrous collapse in 1993, which poisoned the community's drinking water and exposed residents to toxic vapors, causing skin rashes and other ailments.

A Marinduque court in 2022 ruled in favor of the survivors of the incident, citing the damages caused by the mining project on the community.

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Group urges Marcos to end 'plunder of resources' by large-scale mining firms

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After two communities formed barricades against mining firms in February, Alyansa Tigil Mina has called on President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. to put a stop to illegal mining operations that wreak havoc on the environment and surrounding areas.

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Philippines Daily Inquirer (2020, October 12). Reviving Mining INQUIRER.net.
https://opinion.inquirer.net/134382/reviving-mining

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“These projects were given the green light despite persistent opposition from local communities, indigenous peoples, and scientists, who warn of the environmental degradation and human rights violations in constructing these projects" (Enano, 2023).

Enano, J. (2022, June 18). After 6 years, Duterte leaves Philippine environment, its defenders in crisis. RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/environment/duterte-leaves-philippines-environment-defenders-crisis-2022/

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After 6 years, Duterte leaves Philippine environment, its defenders in crisis

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Duterte’s administration leaves the country’s rich ecosystem and natural resources threatened by big development projects that have been met by strong local opposition. Environmental defenders are caught in the crosshairs, targeted by the government that once promised to be their ally.

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Philippine Daily Inquirer. (2021, September 26). Noncompliant kaliwa dam. INQUIRER.net. https://opinion.inquirer.net/144619/noncompliant-kaliwa-dam

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"Smog blanketing Metro Manila on Friday is due to air pollution from heavy vehicular traffic and not the volcanic smog emitted by Taal, government agencies said" ("Metro Manila smog caused by vehicle emissions, not Taal", 2023).

Metro Manila smog caused by vehicle emissions, not Taal. (2023, September 22). Philstar Global. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/09/22/2136153/metro-manila-smog-caused-vehicle-emissions-not-taal

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MANILA, Philippines - Smog blanketing Metro Manila on Friday is due to air pollution from heavy vehicular traffic and not the volcanic smog emitted by Taal, government agencies said.

In a statement, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' Environmental Management Bureau noted that air quality monitoring data shows heightened alert in some parts of Metro Manila "due primarily attributed to emissions from heavy vehicular traffic, especially during rush hour."

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology (Phivolcs) also clarified that the volcanic smog coming out of Taal is drifting west-southwest and away from the direction of Metro Manila.

In a public briefing, Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum said the smog in Metro Manila and the volcanic smog in Taal Volcano were not related, the former being caused by "thermal inversion," while the latter is volcanic gas.

Solidum explained in a Laging Handa briefing: "The temperature, the air, as it goes higher in the atmosphere, should be cooler, but the cool air is currently at a higher altitude."

Phivolcs observed early Friday morning that the presence of vog and documented five volcanic tremors, lasting from 20 to 575 minutes, suggesting increased activity within Taal.

"Vog has been affecting the Taal region since the first week of September 2023 as an average of 3,402 tons per day SO2 has been degassed from Taal Volcano for the month," Phivolcs said.

Phivolcs has advised the public to wear masks and take safety precautions as the volcanic smog consists of volcanic gas which can cause irritation of the eyes, throat and respiratory tract.

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Metro Manila smog caused by vehicle emissions, not Taal

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Smog blanketing Metro Manila on Friday is due to air pollution from heavy vehicular traffic and not the volcanic smog emitted by Taal, government agencies said.

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The Philippine Star. (2018, May 6). Killer air. Philstar Global. https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2018/05/06/1812551/killer-air

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There’s comfort in the thought that we are not alone. But being among the 90 percent of people around the planet breathing heavily polluted air does not diminish the urgency of doing more to improve air quality.

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It also said that the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, which spans 359,486 hectares and is considered the largest protected area in the Philippines, loses an average of 1,400 hectares of forest every year.

The DENR said that this was because of continued assault on the mountain through illegal logging, slash and and burn farming, fuel-wood collection, illegal hunting, and expansion of human settlements. (Dela Peña, 2022, para. 26-27)

Dela Peña, K. (2022, September 28). Sierra Madre stands up to Karding, but needs protection vs the humans it saves. INQUIRER.net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1672040/sierra-madre-stands-up-to-karding-but-needs-protection-vs-the-humans-it-saves

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MANILA, Philippines-No, Sierra Madre was not built by anyone. Like most mountain ranges, Sierra Madre had been formed tens of millions of years ago by geological activity.

The longest mountain range in the Philippines, Sierra Madre spans several provinces and regions, among them Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Calabarzon.

When Super Typhoon Karding (Noru) struck carrying violent winds of close to 200 kph, Sierra Madre proved itself to be "our strongest defense against typhoons," being credited with facing Karding's fury head on and weakening the strongest storm to make landfall in the Philippines this year.

But lost in the homage being paid by netizens, including the uninformed, to Sierra Madre for its role in saving Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon from Karding's Category 5 winds was the assault on Sierra Madre by mainly human activity. In the last 12 years, the mountain range had already lost 161,240 hectares of forest.

Last Sunday (Sept. 25), as Karding barreled through Luzon, Sierra Madre stood her ground and was credited with saving thousands of lives simply by being there and cushioning the blows brought by 185 to 195 kph storm winds.

Forest Foundation Philippines (FFP), an environmental group monitoring the state of Sierra Madre and other Philippine ecological sites, said the mountain range's elevation-1,266 meters above sea level-makes it an effective barrier against typhoons from the Pacific Ocean.

Sierra Madre-500 kilometers long-traverses the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, and Quezon.

Araceli Mercado, chair of the Save Sierra Madre Network Alliance (SSMNA), said the mountain range is a "natural shield" as typhoons weaken as they pass through the corridor.

This was echoed by Sr. Elizabeth Carranza, TST, a member of the secretariat of the Laudato Si' Movement Pilipinas, who said that the mountain range was indeed "our backbone" as it "takes the blows, protects us from the blows of typhoons."

Vanessa Torres, a weather specialist, told the INQUIRER that Sierra Madre was one of the reasons for the weakening of Karding, explaining that the mountain range was a "rugged terrain so Karding naturally lost some strength."

SSMNA said Karding was not the first typhoon that was "stifled" by Sierra Madre, pointing to other equally destructive storms-Ompong (Mangkhut), Lawin (Haima) and Karen (Sarika)-that met their match in Sierra Madre.

Rizal Rep. Juan Fidel Felipe Nograles, author of House Bill No. 1972, which seeks the creation of the Sierra Madre Development Authority, said back in 2018, Ompong's winds fell from 220 kph to 160 kph when the storm passed Sierra Madre.

Two other storms-Lawin and Karen-also crossed Luzon in 2016 but were weakened from Category 5 to Category 3 when they slammed into Sierra Madre, SSMNA said.

But as Sierra Madre trended both on Facebook and Twitter, a nincompoop netizen, apparently a troll, tried to spread the brazen falsehood that President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. built the mountain range and thanked him for it.

The absurdly fantastic claim quickly drew disbelief on social media among other apparent trolls, who considered the claim that Marcos built Sierra Madre to be too unbelievable but nonetheless gave credit to the spirit of "Apo Lakay" for dwelling in the mountain range. Some netizens can only sigh in exasperation at the utter falsehoods.

'Her life is our life'

Carranza, who also served as chair of SSMNA, told INQUIRER.net that Sierra Madre, which literally means "mother mountain," carries life that should be protected since "her life is our life."

She said that years back, her group initiated the "Paglalakbay ng Krus ng Sierra Madre" with the theme "Save Sierra Madre, Save Million Lives," stressing the significance of the mountain range for millions of Filipinos.

This, as Sierra Madre is the source of water and electricity not only of the provinces that it traverses but also Metro Manila, which has a population of over 12 million. "The water of the Pasig River and Laguna lake also comes from Sierra Madre," she said.

Mercado told INQUIRER.net that "the role of Sierra Madre is very vital in protecting the 10 provinces-from Cagayan to Quezon-especially because the Philippines is hit by an average of 20 typhoons every year."

She said that typhoons are more dangerous now, explaining that winds and rain continue to intensify from Category 3 back then to Category 5 now. This, she said, can cause so much destruction to infrastructure, agriculture and also bring massive loss of lives.

Mercado asserted that since "we are now in the stage of a climate emergency or crisis, we cannot afford to lose Sierra Madre or else, the impact [of typhoons] could be catastrophic."

Threats persist

Carranza said "Sierra Madre wants us to take care of her." "This is not only for the government, but for all of us: We really need to protect Sierra Madre, which is now threatened," she said.

Asked about the present threats that confront the mountain range, Mercado said "it is being threatened by activities, like mining, logging (illegal and legal), land conversion, and construction of roads and dams."

She said the consequences that these activities leave behind are permanent and that if these threats will persist, "we can no longer bring back the natural state of Sierra Madre."

Based on data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the mountain range had lost 161,240 hectares of its forest in only 12 years-from 1998 to 2010.

It also said that the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, which spans 359,486 hectares and is considered the largest protected area in the Philippines, loses an average of 1,400 hectares of forest every year.

The DENR said that this was because of continued assault on the mountain through illegal logging, slash and and burn farming, fuel-wood collection, illegal hunting, and expansion of human settlements.

FFP said despite the clear benefits that Sierra Madre provides, "its resources are continuously exploited," saying that mining and agriculture have started to negatively affect the corridor's ecosystem.

"Resource exploitation, changes in land use, infrastructure development, and political neglect have far-reaching consequences for the inhabitants of Sierra Madre," FFP said.

This, as the construction of the P12.2 billion China-financed New Centennial Water Source Kaliwa Dam Project, was seen to further worsen the environmental assault on Sierra Madre as it would permanently flood 300 hectares of forest.

The environmental group Haribon Foundation said the Kaliwa Watershed Forest Reserve was declared as a forest reserve by Proclamation No. 573. A part of the watershed was also declared as a National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary.

IPs' fight

The issue surrounding the dam, Carranza said, is not new. Together with indigenous peoples residing in Sierra Madre, her group SSMNA is also fighting the construction of a much bigger dam-Laiban.

In the last 10 years, the Dumagats had been protesting Laiban and Kaliwa dams especially as the ancestral domain clause of the Indigenous People's Rights Act of 1997 was clear on the Sierra Madre corridor being placed in their care.

The Dumagats opposed-and successfully blocked-the Laiban Dam project of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, but with the construction of the Kaliwa Dam being imminent, the success was shortlived.

The Kaliwa dam project, the government said, is intended to supply 600 million liters of water to Metro Manila, but the think tank Ibon Foundation said there are alternative sources of water.

Haribon Foundation, which said that the Kaliwa dam construction will destroy the corridor's biodiversity, stressed that Sierra Madre provides indispensable services vital for humans to survive, like water.

Based on a 1999 data from the DENR, 40 percent of the remaining 22 percent forest cover in the Philippines was within the mountain range, which the FFP said has rich biodiversity.

As a sanctuary to a rich ecosystem, the mountain range boasts of 68 protected areas, including national parks, watershed forest reserves, natural monuments, marine reserves, landscapes, and seascapes.

"The biological importance of the Sierra Madre corridor is due to the intact forest in its central areas, as well as its high plant diversity-with more than 3,500 recorded species," it said.

These represent roughly 45 percent of all species recorded in the Philippines, with at least 58 percent of them endemic to the corridor. Sierra Madre also contains the most species of birds in Luzon, accounting for at least 80 percent of resident breeding birds.

FFP also said that out of all the species within the mountain range, a 2001 study by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature listed 106 plant species and 28 animal species as threatened.

'Something has to be done'

Mercado said these threats pose greater risk to Sierra Madre and those living in high and lowland areas, who can experience flooding and mudslides, loss of livelihoods, lives and infrastructure, and disruption of economic activities.

"If unchecked for long, these activities may threaten millions of lives. Indigenous people dwelling in the mountains will lose their ancestral domain and eventually, their identities," FFP said.

"The dependence on Sierra Madre for irrigation means that agriculture would also be gravely affected. As more forests are cleared for industry, Sierra Madre would lose what makes it a sturdy wall, leading to flooding or drought in the provinces it touches."

Mercado said the government and all sectors should "participate, plan and implement programs that will protect, conserve and preserve Sierra Madre as habitat of biodiverse flora and fauna [and] our communities who depend their livelihoods and culture [on the corridor]."

"In the context of the climate crisis, we need to have collaborative efforts to strictly implement environmental laws and create policies that will protect our remaining natural resources," she said.

TSB

Responding to appeals for help, the Inquirer is extending its relief efforts to the families affected by Typhoon Karding. Cash donations may be deposited in the Inquirer Foundation Corp. Banco De Oro (BDO) Current Account No.: 007960018860 and through Maya

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Sierra Madre stands up to Karding, but needs protection vs the humans it saves

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MANILA, Philippines-No, Sierra Madre was not built by anyone. Like most mountain ranges, Sierra Madre had been formed tens of millions of years ago by geological activity. The longest

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Manila Bulletin. (2022, September 29). Renew the call to save Sierra Madre today. https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/29/renew-the-call-to-save-sierra-madre-today/