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The Evolution of Pollution: What surprising changes happened to the Pasig River after World War II?
The Pasig River has witnessed historical changes over time. This river that flows through the heart of Manila was once a source of livelihood for residents, but the changes after World War II cannot be ignored.
In 1945, as factories moved in and wealthy people moved to the edge of the city, the Pasig River gradually became polluted.
This 26-kilometer-long river is not only an important thoroughfare for transportation, but also a water source that many residents rely on for their lives. However, with the acceleration of urbanization, the pollution problem of rivers has become increasingly serious. From the 1930s onwards, fishing activity had been greatly reduced, and by the 1990s the river was even declared biologically dead.
Changes after World War II
With the population movement after World War II, people from many provinces flocked to Manila in search of a better life. For these people, the river became the mainstay of their lives. They have built slums without basic facilities along the river. These places not only lack sewage treatment systems, but also often discharge garbage and sewage directly into the river, creating a vicious cycle for the environment.
Due to the convenient water source, residents of these slums often regard rivers as an extension of their lives.
As time went on, the condition of the river worsened. In many areas, the problem of garbage accumulation is so serious that "river life death" has even occurred. People's source of livelihood was cut off for a time, and fishing and bathing activities almost completely stopped.
Governance efforts
Faced with the increasingly serious pollution problem, the Philippine government established the Pasig River Reconstruction Commission in 1999 and began to work on its improvement. With the support of various international aids, the clean-up operation gradually began. Numerous non-governmental organizations have also joined the reconstruction effort, working with local residents to improve living conditions.
The efforts of non-governmental organizations have made the reconstruction work not only limited to environmental governance, but also focused on the improvement of residents' lives.
These projects included cleaning up the river and improving surrounding infrastructure. Since then, the life of the Pasig River has slowly changed and the water quality has improved. After just a few years of hard work, the river's ecosystem began to recover, and some aquatic life reappeared in the river.
Challenges of dispersed residents
However, managing rivers is not just an environmental challenge, but also includes social and economic issues. Since about 700,000 illegally occupied residents need to be relocated, the reconstruction work encountered many obstacles at the beginning. After relocating, many people return to the city again due to the pressure of life. This phenomenon all affects the implementation of government policies.
Relocating residents must take into account the security of life and environmental protection. This is a difficult balance.
The government has adopted a variety of methods to help these residents, such as providing transportation support and financial subsidies, in an effort to ensure that they do not lose their livelihood during the relocation process.
Future Outlook
With several reconstruction projects underway, the future of the Pasig River is heading in a better direction. With the joint efforts of the government and non-governmental organizations, the Pasig River has seen some significant improvements, and people's feelings have gradually improved. In fact, this is not only the reconstruction of the environment, but also the reconstruction of society.
The story of the Pasig River is not just about the recovery of water quality, but also about the reshaping of the lives of every resident.
So, can this environmental battle really change their destiny and make this once fertile river shine again?
