Riding a ferry bound to Lambingan station, we departed from Escolta, hoping to see firsthand the current state of the Pasig River. The stench of trash and waste worsens as we approached the river's center. The hue of the water is far off from its initial color, and water hyacinths are gathered around the boats, ports, and pumping station of the river. The plants might make one think the water is safe, but the plants themselves are not actually supposed to be there. Somehow, these plants are sensitive to toxicity. Thinking about how they are attracted to wastes makes them blend in with the plastics and styrofoams, although the view above the water is scenic. One can just look up and think that everything is as bad as it looks. Our sightseeing stopped as noise could be heard. The crew searched around, stopping at the rear of the boat. They saw a piece of plastic stuck on the rudder and removed it. It is sad to see another man's trash becoming another man's problem. As we head closer to Lambingan, children restlessly swam around the boats, as if the river was their own private swimming pool. A flock of migratory birds is seen on the other side, stepping on the styrofoams as objects to rest on, flying towards the sky short after. Does the flight of the birds mean something? Can life in the river soar just like they did? We arrived in the station in Lambingan, and we felt something different from before. I think we just got the glimmer of hope we need.
The Pasig River is a river declared biologically dead in the 1990s as it is incapable of sustaining marine life. It has, however, recently shown signs of aquatic life. The river started out as a biologically diverse habitat which thrived with 13 different types of plants and 25 varieties of fish (Cruz, 1997). The deterioration of water bodies then occurred after the second world war in the 1940s where the increase in economic activities, development of infrastructures along with the massive growth of population served as the origin for the virtually extinguished river (Gorme, 2010).
Figure 1 Map Of the Pasig River (Villanueva et. al., 2013)
With a length of 27 kilometers, an average width of 91 meters and a ranging depth of 0.5 to 5.5 meters, the Pasig River has a flow originating from Laguna de Bay. It then joins the Marikina River through the Napindan Channel. The area between the Guadalupe Bridge and C6 Bridge is where the deepest portions of around 4.5 meters is located while the outlet, near Manila Bay, is where the river is most shallow (Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, 2010).
Pasig River no longer has its prestige of its recreational and transport functions, secondary contact sports are discouraged in the river and the improvement of land transportation further increased its diminished use (Cruz, 1997). The Environmental Management Division of Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) states that the river’s pollution is detrimental to human health, as it causes health problems and communicable diseases transmitted by the pathogenic organisms which thrive from the river’s polluted state. Algal blooms further deplete the oxygen of the river, suffocating aquatic plants and animals. This reduction in biodiversity affects the sustainability of the country.
The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, one of the first organizations created for restoring the river, was created in 1999. It operates in order to restore the river because of its historical and economic significance. Other organizations such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) have also helped in the process yet the progress still seems minimal compared to the time frame that has passed.
According to the Pasig River Unified Monitoring Stations (PRUMS) report in 2018, sent by the PRRC Environmental Management, the river now displays distinct signs of recovery. It shows that the C6 Bridge, Bambang Bridge, Marikina Bridge, and 10 other stations are now classified by the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) as Class C water. Despite this, the entirety of Pasig River is yet to be classified under Class C, which is defined as being suitable for aquatic life, recreation and agricultural water supply. In 2009, eight species of fish were observed in the Pasig River, two of which are native and one endemic to our county. Residents within the vicinity are reported to have caught a common freshwater fish known as tilapia in an article made by Madarang (2019) and a catfish weighing over 10 kg in another article by Layug (2019).
Although with the increase in biodiversity, PRRC has recently warned the public against the consumption of fish caught in the river. The PRRC Fish Tissue Analysis in the Pasig River System has shown that fish samples acquired from Napindan Bridge, Santa Ana Ferry, Guadalupe Ferry, classified as Class C, have the presence of fecal coliform and traces of toxic heavy metals in its tissues. Fecal Coliform serve as the lithmus test for determining the presence of potential pathogenic organisms such as Escherichia coli which has strains such as E. coli 0157:H7 that can cause illnesses outside of the intestinal tract (Center for Diseases Control and Prevention). The most prevalent toxic heavy metals in the tissue samples were lead and mercury (mercury especially). Long term exposure of lead causes adverse effects such as anemia, psychological disorders and cognitive disruptions, etc. in the form of lead intoxication (Mallongi and Mallongi, 2016). Mercury, even in small quantities, can lead to biomagnification, where in the substance can be dispersed among its predators.
“The improvement of some of the water quality parameters as well as the presence of different species of fishes in the river system signifies that there is hope for the Pasig River. Together with the support of the national government agencies, local government units, private institutions, and the surrounding communities, the goal of restoring the river’s water quality to Class C level is within reach.”
-PRRC Environmental Management Division
The restoration of Pasig River is important. It serves as our heritage. It has significant economic value. And it is our duty as Filipino citizens to take care of our country.
Team Behind
Lead Researcher: Rendel Ang
Researcher: Allen Atienza
Cinematographer and Editor: Jayvee Fulgencio
References:
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d.). E. coli (Escherichia coli). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/general/index.html
Cruz, R.T. (1997). Case Study III – The Pasig River, Philippines. 11 New Fetter Lane, London: E. & F.N. Spon.
Gorme, J.B., Maniquiz, M.C., Song, P., Kim, L.H. (2010). The Water Quality of Pasig River in the City of Manila, Philippines: Current Status, Management and Future Recovery. Environmental Engineering Research, 15(3), 173-179. DOI: 10.4491/eer.2010.15.3.173
Layug, M.C. (2019). ‘Monster’ hito, weighing over 10 kilos, caught in Pasig River. GMA News Online. Retrieved from https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/metro/703896/monster-hito-weighing-over-10-kilos-caught-in-pasig-river/story/
Madarang, C.R. (2019). Freshwater fish tilapia caught in Pasig River years after rehabilitation. Interaksyon. Retrieved from http://www.interaksyon.com/trends-spotlights/2019/01/29/143140/freshwater-fish-tilapia-caught-in-pasig-river-after-years-of-rehabilitation/
Mallongi, H., Mallongi, A. (2016). Health Risk Analysis of Lead Exposure from Fish Consumption among Communities along Youtefa Gulf. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 15(10), 929-935. DOI: 10.3923/pjn.2016.929.935
Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (2010). 2010 annual report of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission. Retrieved from http://www.prrc.gov.ph/index.php/component/jdownloads/send/7-prrc-accomplishment-reports/8-prrc-accomplishment-report-f-y-2010
Villanueva, J., Le Coustumer, P., Huneau, F., Motelica-Heino, M., Perez, T., Materum, R., Espaldon, M. & Stoll, S. (2013). Assessment of Trace Metals during Episodic Events using DGT Passive Sampler: A Proposal for Water Management Enhancement. Water Resources Management, 27. 4163-4181. DOI:10.1007/s11269-013-0401-5.
