UP geologists Fernando Siringan and Kelvin Rodolfo said the land in Malabon and its neighboring cities Navotas and Kalookan has sunk by an average of 2.5 cms – 9.1 cms in 11 years since 1991.
Blame it on water pumping. When water is pumped from ground too much, the land could subside through the years.
In 2007, the government put in place a moratorium on extracting groundwater not just in these cities but in the entire Metro Manila. If water continues to be mined, people would get saltwater instead.
According to a 2004 Natural Water Resources Board paper, Metro Manila has a groundwater extraction rate of 2,548,700 cubic meters per day – which is equivalent to 1,000 swimming pools.
Malabon residents experienced the effects of excessive groundwater extraction 20 years ago.
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Written by Philippine Network of Environmental Journalist (PNEJ) member PURPLE ROMERO under the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) fellowship published at RAPPLER
File photo: Manila Bay by IVAbano
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