Pasig RIver Pollution

KAPIT BISIG, LINIS PASIG“ANG KALIKASAN, AY ATING KINABUKASAN”

OUR CURRENT PROJECT IS THE “LINIS PASIG” WHERE WE WOULD PARTNER WITH PASIG RIVER REHABILITATION COMMISION WHICH AIMS TO CLEAR THE ENVIRONMENT OF ITS POLLUTANTS AND PRESERVE ITS BIODIVERSITY FOR THE FOLLOWING GENERATIONS TO ENJOY.

KAPIT BISIG, LINIS PASIG“KAPIT BISIG” IS A NON-PROFITABLE ORGANIZATION THAT IS OPEN TO ALL ADVOCATES AND ALL POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTORS WHO CAN HELP US ACHIEVE OUR MISSION WHICH IS TO HAVE A CLEANER AND CLEARER ECOSYSTEM WITHIN THE VICINITY OF THE PHILIPPINES ONE SMALL STEP AT A TIME.

IMPORTANCE OF PASIG RIVER

Before the colonial period, the Pasig River was the main entry point of international traders when transacting business with the people of Manila, who were called Tagalogs, or Taga-ilog, meaning “river dwellers.” It used to be a major transport route and source of water during the Spanish period. Upstream the municipalities utilized the river for fishing. The river served as a habitat for 25 varieties of fish and 13 different types of aquatic plants. However we can no longer say that the Pasig River is still a major source of water because it has been polluted.

The Pasig River connects Manila Bay (one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world) and Laguna de Bay (the largest lake in the Philippines and the third largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia). Pasig River was still used for transportation from 2007 to 2011. As a matter of fact, the Pasig River Ferry Service cruised the Pasig River from Barangay Pinagbuhatan in Pasig City to Intramuros in Manila without having experienced heavy traffic.

PASIG RIVER’S POLLUTANTS

SOLID WASTESolid waste means garbage. Metro Manila produces 7,000 tons of garbage a day without the facilities to dispose of it adequately. Therefore, much of it -- about 1,500 tons -- is thrown into streams, tributaries and the bay. Some tributaries have actually become clogged from all of the trash in them and sometimes cause floods through the rainy season.

It is estimated that 65 percent of the pollution in Pasig River comes from household waste. The river becomes the place to dump some of the 440 tons of wastewater produced daily by Metro Manila's citizens. An additional 4,000 settlers along the river are considered to be "informal." Pasig River is noted for its dark-colored water, unpleasant smell and the presence of floating feces.

HOUSEHOLD WASTES

INDUSTRIAL WASTE Approximately 30 percent of river pollutants come

from industries, which are located in close proximity to it. They have their own water treatment facilities but are still incapable of removing heavy metal pollutants, such as nickel. Copper, lead, manganese and zinc have also been found in unacceptably high levels, along with pesticides, nitrates and phosphates.

The population along Pasig River has continued to multiply, but the developing country's ability to cope with waste disposal has not kept up. It was initially used for bathing and fishing, and later on became the "toilet bowl" of Manila.

URBAN GROWTH

EFFECTS OF THEPOLLUTION TO SOCIETY

Pasig River brings countless possibilities of diseases such as dengue, encephalitis from parasites and much more. It also gives a distinct foul odor, destroys the wildlife and the land around us thus making the soil infertile, eliminates the possibility to farm and negates life itself.

SOLUTION TO THE SITUATION

Help in cleaning Pasig River and encourage other people, big or small—students, advocates, and contributors to participate in the rehabilitation of the river and might as well begin the segregation of waste materials, biodegradable from non-biodegradable and reuse likewise recycle materials.

In the long run, we aim to provide seminars for the surrounding illegal settlers, relocate them slowly, and maintain a strict regulation concerning pollution around the area.

FUTURE PROGRAMS OF KAPIT BISIG

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors:

PERFORMANCE TASK

FOUNDER OF KAPIT BISIG:KEVIN CARL C. FIGUEROAKIM JEONG MIM (ROSIE KIM)

SCIENCEGRADE 9 WISDOMSIR ROBERT L. DEL MONTE