The Philippines, a Southeast Asian country in the western Pacific, is an archipelago made up of 7,107 islands. Rich in biodiversity, the archipelago is filled with many beautiful mountains, rainforests, and islands which attract tourists from all over the world. It's undeniable that The Philippines has a lot of breathtaking sights. Sadly, it seems that most of the Philippine nationals often neglect their own country and its Natural Resources. Along with being a scenic hub for tourists, the Philippines also happens to be a major contributor to ocean pollution, Air Pollution, and destruction of marine life.

Due to the negligence of the locals, the Philippine lands and bodies of water are extremely polluted. With the scarcity of fresh water in so many parts of the world, the Philippines has more than enough fresh water in its waterfalls, rivers, and lakes. But according to the Water Environment Partnership in Asia:

  • Up to 58 percent of groundwater needs treatment since it is contaminated with coliform.
  • For a five-year period, about 31 percent of illnesses monitored were caused by water-borne sources

Wastewater left untreated will affect health

Other than water pollution, the air itself is filled with pollutants. Vehicle emissions contribute 69 percent of the country's air pollution, according to the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR).

Although the current rate of air pollution in the Philippines has declined by about 20 percent, the air is still more than the allowable level stated in the Clean Air Act which doesn't make it any better.

Unenforced laws, government and civilian negligence, and lack of education are huge factors taking part in this environmental dilemma.

Even though pollution is everywhere and has been everywhere in the Philippines for generations, the Filipino people never acted of their own accord in cleaning up their surroundings. No matter how small the Philippine archipelago is compared to other countries, the pollution in the air and water will eventually spread globally through tides, air, and marine creatures. [VIDEO]

According to The Guardian, the scientists at Ghent University in Belgium recently found that shellfish lovers are eating plastic in their seafood each year.

Although we absorb fewer than one percent, it will still accumulate in the body over time. This is only one example of our trash coming back to us, and there are many other cases similar to this.

What will happen if left untreated

Due to pollutants, the biodiversity in the Philippines is threatened. If these problems continue to be neglected by the Filipino people:

  • Many species of plants and animals may either be endangered or extinct
  • Natural resources may deteriorate over time
  • Philippine tourism will decline
  • World pollution rates will only keep rising

With the rising percentage of trash contributed by the Philippines every day, it is undeniable that it will only get worse. It's time to raise awareness and act now for a better tomorrow.