Roldan M.

Ormilla May 16, 2018

MAEd-Science

Pasig River and Laguna de Bay

Pasig River
In his novel “El Filibusterismo” José Rizal describes how a captain navigates his old and ponderous
steamer “Tabo” on the Pasig River to the Laguna Bay. The river meandered and the narrow fairway was
marked by wood stakes only insufficiently. Sandbanks blocked the way of the river again and again. The
Pasig is not yet canalized and has no bank reinforcement. It "glitters in the morning sunlight". Little carpets
of water lilies are slowly drifting down the river. The Pasig is rich in fish, many fish traps are laid out.
Mangroves and bamboo bushes line the banks. Bathing people enjoy themselves in the river, often they can
still see the bottom of the river. And let us hope that they did not meet one of the crocodiles which are still
shall in the river and adjacent Laguna sea. The quality of water plays already an important role. When in
1820 a Cholera epidemic broke out, foreigners are accused to have poisoned the Pasig. Some of them are
massacred. The water of the river was regarded as sacrosanct.
There are various speculations over the origin of the river name "Pasig". Some say it derives from
the Tagalog and stands for sandbank. Others suspect that the name could be a spoonerism of the name of
Legaspi, the first Spanish general governor. Already before the arrival of Spanish colonizers – when Manila
was still ruled over by Still was ruled over by Muslim Rajahs - the Pasig was an important traffic route on
which goods and persons were transported.
Let's add some data about the river itself. The Pasig is only about 25 km long and connects the
Manila Bay with the Laguna lake.
The Laguna Bay with its 922 km2 (almost the double of the area of Lake Constance) is one of the
biggest freshwater lakes of Southeast Asia and has an average depth of water of only round about two
metres. Into which direction the rivers flows depend on the water level of the sea in the Manila Bay and
such of the Laguna Bay. It varies seasonal. If the water-level of the Laguna lake sinks in the dry season
(March - May) and high saltwater floods of the Manila Bay press in the Pasig then the water can stand or
even can flow backwards. The fishermen of the Laguna Lake are ascribing positive effects to the saltwater
influx into the Laguna Lake and they argued therefore against the erection of a dam between river and the
lake.
Nowadays the river is between 120 (Manila Bay mouth) and 60 metres wide and four to six metres
deep. It flows through a densely populated area. It is estimated that actual approx. 4.4 million of the 15
million people in Manila are living on or nearby the river and his 13 tributaries. The river system of the
Pasig passes in the area of Manila eight towns and three larger communities. North of the river are e.g. the
villages of Binando, Quiapo, Sampalag, San Miguel, Santa Cruz, Santa Mesa and Tondo, in southern
direction we can find among others Ermita, Intramuros, Malate, Paco, Pandacan, Port Area, San Andres,
Bukid and Sta. Anna.
Again, back for the history of the river. At the end of the 19th century the port of Manila was
extended further and the Pasig canalized. The canalization enabled a safer and more economic use of the
waterway to the Laguna Bay. Then the first four big bridges over the were built. Today eight bridges span
over the Pasig in Manila. It was chic to live and to promenade at the banks of Pasig. The rich had their
houses near the river and the presidential palace Malacanang was also built near the Pasig. A little bit too
flamboyantly the river was compared with the "Canale Grande" of Venice.
 Later the industrialization starts and more and more factories were settled at the waterfront. Today
the number of factories is round about 300. The water quality of the Pasig begins to worsen. The fish
populations decline in the thirties and warnings are issued not to bath in the river. A decade later laundry is
practically not more washed in the river. The river begins to stink. Instead of water lilies now more more
coloured plastic bags with waste could be seen swimming on the surface. The business activities shift more
and more to Makati, the richer persons are looking for new attractive residential areas. The riverside region
loses housing quality. Now the "Canale Grande" has become a sewer. The water pollution comes mainly
from domestic and industrial sources. According to a newer UNO report of 2006 150 tons of domestic solid
and liquid waste and 75 tons of industrial waste are dumped into the Pasig daily - that's about 82,000 tons
waste a year. Pollution from leachate because of bad sanitation and sewerage cannot be measured exactly
but has enormous dimensions. Especially the squatter colonies lined at the banks the river became a target
of criticism.
The squatters are sometimes also called - less discriminatory - "Informal Settlers" or "Urban Poors".
As of the sixties they began to settle at the river banks in increasing number. They left their impoverished
homes in the provinces in the hope Manila would offer them more better earnings. Mostly they settle on
public ground without any permission or renting contract. They live in very modest quonsets with plywood
walls and without connection to the waterworks systems. The huts are often standing on stilts because in
the rainy season the Pasig frequently bursts its banks. The number of the squatters on the Pasig is not
constant and can only be estimated. In 2000 it was supposed that round about 60,000 families are directly
living at the river banks. That correspondents to 300.000 persons, if we assume five persons in a average
family. In his profound article on the squatters Moritz Kleine-Brockhoff even reckons the number of river-
residents at 350,000. If we follow this author, almost a third of the population of Metro Manila can be
classified as squatters.
Since the squatter families do not connections to the main water supply, they have to look if there
is a public water installation or faucet, have to tap a water pipe illegally or they have to buy drinking water,
which can be expensive. And where to go with the domestic waste, if there is no garbage collection or a
sewage system? One possibility could be to deposit it secretly in the neighbourhood area. However, the
more direct and faster way leads to the Pasig river, which then becomes a substitute sewer. There is another
estimate after which the Pasig-Squatters transfer daily approximately 35 tons solid and 150 tons liquid
waste into the river.
In connection with this we should mention that the sewer system in Manila is one of the poorestin
South East Asia. More than 11 million inhabitants of Metro Manila (approximately 85%) do not have proper
access to sewerage facilities according to the Environmental Management Bureaus (EMB). Only almost
15% are connected to sewer lines managed by the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and
private concessionaire Manila Water Co. 85 per cent of the population discharge its toilet waste into tanks,
which are not cleaned or treated for years and /or conduct the untreated water via channels into the
Pasig. So the groundwater in Metro Manila is contaminated in high extent and it has already penetrated
into the public water line system. The World Bank values the annual economic losses caused by water
pollution at about P67 billion and the same institution is reporting that between 1996 and 2000 about 31%
of the monitored illnesses can be explained by dirty water (particularly diarrhoea). These special health
costs are estimated at about P 3.3 billion per year.
For government circles the squatters were always a disgrace and annoyance. Already under
president Ramos resettlements of squatters were carried out. From the approx. seven resettlement places
especially Dasmarinas, Cavite and Kasiglahan Village I in Montalban - also called "Erap City” centre -
 have become known. Erap City is more than twenty kilometres from the outskirts away from Manila and
offers only few work opportunities at the place. Therefore, it is not surprising that an investigation showed,
that already in the first two years 30 - 40 per cent of the resettlers returned from their tenement houses back
to the Pasig River. In the long term the percentage increased even to 80 per cent. Again, and again there are
disputes between the squatters and the officials about the question which limit distance between the hats
and the banks of the river should be respected. The squatters prefer – if at all – a three metre distance, the
municipal authorities demand a distance from ten metres.
The dispute escalated in September 2000 at the place Pineda. Time before the authorities ordered
already a compulsory evacuation of 12,000 families. Another 270 huts should be demolished now. The
dispute resulted in physical attacks, a demolition worker was killed. The situation would have kept on
worsening, if not the Asian Development Bank, the financer of the project, would have insisted on more
peaceful measures of enforcement. The resettlement conflicts are not cleared up to this day. Now a gradual
proceeding is announced. First the families very near to the river should be resettled, those living away
from the river should follow later.
To the contamination of the Pasig contribute also round about 300 of the 2000 commercial
enterprises. Partly they discharge their sewages untreated into the river. Between 1980 and 1990 they
contributed to about 44 per cent to the pollution. In 2000 especially, the glassworks "Republic Asahi" and
the chemistry factory "Chemphil" - next to the textile processing factories - became a target for
environmentalists.
Greenpeace could prove by taken samples that they are substantially responsible for the discharge
of noxious metallic substances High levels of copper and manganese und to a lower extend of lead, nickel
and zinc). In recent time, however, there are indications that the industrial water pollution is regressive.
Cleaning standards and efficient means of control are still missing, however. The government tries to
resettle some industrial plants and to use the new free areas for residential buildings and parks.
In view of these deplorable state of affairs the intentions for the rehabilitation of the river are quickly listed:
- Improvement on the water quality by short-term cleaning measures in the river (e.g. excavation the river
sludge and removal of ship wrecks) and long-term elimination of the pollution sources
- Improvement in the environmental conditions at the river (squatter resettlements, creation of parklands and
recreation areas)
- Reduction of the river floods
- Improvement in the transport conditions on the river
Those responsible were very optimistic about the realization of their programme and referred
to successful river rehabilitations in abroad (Rhine, Thames, Seine). The realization, however, did not come
up to the expectations. The enormous financial expenditure was neglected and measures started only very
selectively in the past. The areas of responsibility were fragmented, decision-making processes
unnecessarily bureaucratized and the means of control deficient.
Already Imelda Marcos - as governor of Manila - dreamt about making the Pasig more attractive for
tourists by the establishments of casinos and restaurants. But her dreams resulted only in the colour painting
of some river walls and the planting of few trees. As of 1989 the responsible start with foreign help at least
with analyses and inventories. The Pasig River Rehabilitation Program (PRRP) got adopted. It included
provided 21 different projects with a total cost expenditure of 420 million US$. The expectation was that
the most necessary would be done within 10 -15 years. But, to this day, the Herculean task is far from its
end. Moritz Kleine-Brockhoff judges harshly: The old programs "have cost a lot of money and caused
little".
 In 1999 President Estrada established the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC), which is
now responsible for the river rehabilitation together with the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR). In 1990 the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted a credit of 176 million
US$ for the rehabilitation of the Pasig. The paying out of the credit tranches depends on successful measure
steps. The ADB checks and corrects. Now the expectation is that the Pasig could be brought into a tolerable
waters class up to the year 2014.
After years of the relative indifference a modest progress is made. Already in the nineties, the dredging
out of river started. The deposition of the morass still causes problems. Sunk boats and barges which
endangered the navigation were raised. Some industrial plants were resettled for example to Calabarzon.
Already 1990 there was a first attempt to improve the passenger transport on the Pasig. A relatively
reasonably priced ferry services with "River Buses" and seven hold stations was established. In 30 - 40
minutes people could be transported from Bambong in the east up to the river muzzle in the west. The
favourable point is the time advantage. The chronically blocked traffic needed double time. However, the
ferry traffic was stopped after two years, because it operated not cost-effectively. Another reason was, that
in the summer time the passengers turned up their noses because of the stench of the river water. In spring
2006 the establishment of a new ferry-line was planned. It should operate with six ships – each with a
seating capacity of 150 persons - end of this year. 14 hold stops are planned. The intention is to transport
at least 28,000 passengers daily. It remains to be seen if this new passenger service gets accepted. It could
make a contribution to the traffic relief of the streets.
The river is cleaner than in the nineties and it is told that the smell is not anymore so pungent. The
harmful industrial discharges have been reduced and the resettlement actions are at least partially
successful. Promenades are connecting 15 amusement parks particularly in Makati. which are, however,
not fully accepted by the population. It remains a lot to do until the river has found its original beauty and
dignity. The time presses.

Laguna de Bay
Laguna de Bay means "Lagoon of [the town of] Bay" for the lakeshore town of Bay (pronounced
as "Bä'ï"), the former provincial capital of Lagunaprovince. Alternate spellings of the town's name include
"Bae" or "Ba-i", and in the early colonial times, "Bayi" or "Vahi". Thus, the lake is sometimes spelled as
"Laguna de Bae" or "Laguna de Ba-i", mostly by the locals. The town's name is believed to have come from
the Tagalog word for "settlement" (bahayan), and is related to the words for "house" (bahay), "shore"
(baybayin), and "boundary" (baybay), among others. The introduction of the English language during
the American occupation of the Philippines, elicited confusion as the English word "bay", referring to
another body of water, was mistakenly substituted to the town name that led to its
mispronunciation. However, the word "Bay" in Laguna de Bay has always referred to the town.
The Spanish word Laguna refers to not just lagoons but also for freshwater lakes, aside from lago.
Some examples of the worldwide usage of lagunafor lakes include Laguna Chicabal in Guatemala, Laguna
de Gallocanta in Spain, Laguna Catemaco in Mexico and Laguna de Leche, the largest lake in Cuba. The
lake's alternate name, "Laguna Lake", refers to the Province of Laguna, the province at the southern shore
of the lake. Laguna province, though, was named because of the large lake and was originally called La
Laguna till the early 20th century.
Early geologists had diverse opinions regarding the origin of Laguna de Bay. Up to this time, the
issue that the lake was previously a volcanic crater or that it originated through subsidence due to a volcanic
eruption still needs supporting facts. A shallow crater at the southern end of Talim Island can be found and
serves as one evidence of its volcanic history, i.e., that Laguna de Bay is believed to have been formed by
two major volcanic eruptions between 27,000-29,000 years ago (UP Planades, 2011).
Based on recent findings, Laguna de Bay was once a part of Manila Bay. This is evidenced by the
discovery of drill cores of marine shell species which can also be found in Manila Bay. These species of
marine shells can also be located in the upper shores of Bagumbayan (Luneta Park) and in the Marikina
Fault in Pasig-Marikina River junction (Laguna de Bay Master Plan, 1995).

Characteristics of the lake ecosystem

The lake’s aggregate surface area is 900 km2 when it is at its average highest elevation of 12.50
meters, and around 76,000 hectares when it is at its average lowest elevation of 10.50 meters. It is the largest
inland body of water in the Philippines and third largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia next to Lake
Toba (Santos-Borja, 1994) and Lake Songkhla of Thailand, with 1,100–1,129 and 987 km2 of surface area,
respectively (Gleick, 1993). Laguna de Bay covers almost one half of the 190,000 hectares total area of all
existing lakes in the Philippines (Laguna de Bay Master Plan, 1995). The lake is bounded by the Sierra
Madre mountain ranges on the northeast, the Caliraya volcanic plateau on the east, mountains of Laguna
and Batangas including Mt. Banahaw and Mt. Makiling on the south and southeast. This Lake has a total
volume of 3.2 billion cubic meters with a shoreline of 220 kms. Average depth of the lake is 2.5 meters.
Around 100 rivers and streams drain into the lake, of which 22 are significant river systems1. There
is only one outlet, the Napindan Channel, through the Pasig River that drains lake waters to Manila Bay.
The Napindan Hydraulic Control Structure (HCS) built in 1982 controls the outflow to Manila Bay. As
designed, the HCS controls the backflow of saline water and pollution from the Pasig River. In addition to
Laguna de Bay, there are other, smaller, lakes in the region, in particular the Seven Crater Lakes (Sampaloc,
Calibato, Bunot, Palakpakin, Pandin, Yambo and Mohicap) with a total surface area of 305 has. and Tadlak
lake in Los Banos which is only 25 has.
These tributary rivers are the Pagsanjan River, the Sta. Cruz River, the Balanak River, the Marikina
River, the Mangangate River, the Tunasan River, the San Pedro River, the Cabuyao River, the San Cristobal
River, the San Juan River, the Bay, Calo, and Maitem Rivers in Bay, the Molawin, Dampalit and Pele
Rivers in Los Baños, the Pangil River, the Tanay River, the Morong River, the Siniloan River, and the
Sapang Baho River, Sta. Maria, Jala-jala, Pililia, Baras, Pila, Angono, Manggahan, Calauan

Lake Hydrology
The hydrology of the lake has a natural stage regime which in the dry season results in a minimum
lake elevation of approximately 10.5 m. regulated by mean sea level in Manila Bay (Laguna de Bay Master
Plan, 1995). After the dry season, the lake level may fall below the level of high tide in manila Bay. This
will result in intrusion of seawater into Pasig River. Because of this intrusion, the highly polluted waters of
Pasig River are finally discharge into the Lake. Moreover, the tidal influx is the main cause of salinity in
the lake during this part of the mentioned year (Laguna de Bay Master Plan, 1995). The hydrology of the
lake is discussed below, while those of the twenty-four tributary rivers are described in Annex 1 of the
Updated Laguna de Bay Master Plan.
From the sub-basins, the run-off brings in freshwater to the lake, half of which inflows come from
rivers found in the eastern part of the lake. The biggest contribution comes from Pagsanjan River, which
accounts for 18%-20% of the total inflows. When there is sufficient tidal fluctuation and the lake level is
lower than Manila Bay, salt water intrusion through the Pasig River increases the salinity of the lake
resulting to brackish water. Freshwater runoff and saltwater backflows maintain the salt balance of the lake
(Tongson, E. et. al., 2012).
Laguna Lake is divided into four (4) bays, namely West Bay, Central Bay and East Bay and South
Bay (ADB, 2005). Talim Island separates the West and Central Bay. These divisions are due to considerable
bathymetrical differences of these areas (Delos Reyes 1995). Three bays mentioned are ca. 30-40 km long
and 7-20 km wide. Accompanying figure shows the bathymetrical differences that divided the lake into 4
main bays.
The lake is naturally eutrophic and highly productive. Increasing enrichment in terms of plant
nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus has been caused by human activities in the basin. The lake is
surrounded by low-lying alluvial plains which are often inundated during heavy rainfall. The pH varies
from 7.6 during the cool months to 10 at the peak of algal bloom in mid-summer; the average is about 8.5.
The water is relatively turbid and has an average dissolved oxygen of 10.5 p.p.m. Wind action can cause
severe turbidity due to suspension of bottom sediments, particularly during typhoons. At the end of the dry
season, the level of the lake often falls below that of Manila Bay, allowing seawater to flow into the lake at
high tide. The lake reaches its maximum level between September and November, and then falls by an
average of 1.7m to its lowest level in May or June.

Lake Bathymetry
The studies conducted by LLDA-NIGS in 1999 on the bathymetry and sediment quality of the
Laguna de Bay showed that the surface area was 949 km2 or 949,000 hectares. The average depth was at
2.1 meters (at elevation 10.5 m) and the total water volume was 1.89 billion cu. m. Based on the bathymetric
changes from 1938 to 1997, the sedimentation rate was estimated to be from 1.03 to 1.20 cm yr -1.

Uses
The lake is a multipurpose resource. In order to reduce the flooding in Manila along the Pasig River,
during heavy rains, the peak water flows of the Marikina River are diverted via the Manggahan
Floodway to Laguna de Bay, which serves as a temporary reservoir. In case the water level on the lake is
higher than the Marikina River, the flow on the floodway is reversed, both Marikina River and the lake
drain through Pasig River to Manila Bay.
The lake has been used as a navigation lane for passenger boats since the Spanish colonial era. It is
also used as a source of water for the Kalayaan Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric Project in Kalayaan,
Laguna. Other uses include fishery, aquaculture, recreation, food support for the growing duck
industry, irrigation and a "virtual" cistern for domestic, agricultural, and industrial effluents. Because of its
importance in the development of the Laguna de Bay Region, unlike other lakes in the country, its water
quality and general condition are closely monitored. This important water resource has been greatly affected
by development pressures like population growth, rapid industrialization, and resources allocation.
Known lake islands include Talim, the largest and most populated island on the lake; Calamba
Island, which is completely occupied by the Wonder Island resort in Calamba, Laguna; Cielito Lindo, a
privately owned island off the coast of mainland Cardona, Rizal; Malahi Island which used to be the site of
Maligi Island military reservation, near the southern tip of Talim; the nearby islands of Bonga and Pihan,
also in Cardona; and Bay Island off the coast of Bay, Laguna, which is closely associated with the
precolonial crocodile-deity myths of that town.
Environmental Issues
At least 18 fish species are known from Laguna de Bay; none are strictly endemic to the lake, but
3 are endemic to the Philippines: Gobiopterus lacustris, Leiopotherapon
plumbeus and Zenarchopterus philippinus. Aquaculture is widespread in Laguna de Bay, but often involves
non-native species. Some of these have escaped and have become invasive species, representing a threat to
the native fish.
Because of the problems facing and threatening the potential of the lake, then President Ferdinand
Marcos signed into law Republic Act (RA) 4850 in 1966 creating the Laguna Lake Development
Authority (LLDA), the main agency tasked to oversee the programs that aimed to develop and protect
Laguna de Bay. Though it started as a mere quasi-government agency with regulatory and proprietary
functions, its charter was strengthened by Presidential Decree (PD) 817 in 1975 and by Executive Order
(EO) 927 in 1983 to include environmental protection and jurisdiction over the surface waters of the lake
basin. In 1993, by virtue of the devolution, the administrative supervision of the LLDA was transferred to
the DENR by EO 149.
Government data showed that about 60% of the estimated 8.4 million people residing in the Laguna
de Bay Region discharge their solid and liquid wastes indirectly to the lake through its tributaries. A large
percentage of these wastes are mainly agricultural while the rest are either domestic or industrial. According
to DENR (1997), domestic and industrial wastes contribute almost equally at 30% each. Meanwhile,
agricultural wastes take up the remaining 40%. In a recent sensitivity waste load model ran by the Laguna
Lake Development Authority's (LLDA) Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) division, it
revealed that 70% of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) loadings came from households, 19% from
industries, and 11% came from land run-off or erosion (LLDA, 2005).
As far as industries and factories are concerned, there are about 1,481 and increase is expected. Of
the said figure, about 695 have wastewater treatment facilities. Despite this, the lake is absorbing huge
amounts of pollution from these industries in the forms of discharges of industrial cooling water, toxic spills
from barges and transport operations, and hazardous chemicals like lead, mercury, aluminum and
cyanide. Based from the said figure, 65% are classified as “pollutive” industries.
The hastened agricultural modernization throughout the region took its toll on the lake. This paved
the way for massive and intensified use of chemical-based fertilizers and pesticides whose residues
eventually find their way to the lake basin. These chemicals induce rapid algal growth in the area that
depleted oxygen levels in the water. Hence, oxygen available to the lake is being used up thereby depleting
the available oxygen for the fish, causing massive fish kills.
As far as domestic wastes are concerned, around 10% of the 4,100 metric tons of waste generated
by residents of Metro Manila are dumped into the lake, causing siltation of the lake. As reported by the now
defunct Metropolitan Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), only 15% of the residents in the
area have an effective waste disposal system. Moreover, around 85% of the families living along the
shoreline do not have toilets and/or septic tanks.
On January 29, 2008, the Mamamayan Para sa Pagpapanatili ng Pagpapaunlad ng Lawa ng Laguna
(Mapagpala) accused the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) of the deterioration of Laguna de
Bay due to multiplication of fish pens beyond the allowable limit.

Protection and conservation of Laguna de Bay

According to the Clean Water Act of 2004, the DENR (through the LLDA) shall implement a
wastewater charge system in all management areas including the Laguna Lake region and Regional
Industrial Centers through the collection of wastewater charges/fees. The system shall be established on the
basis of payment to the government for discharging wastewater into the water bodies. Wastewater charges
shall be established taking into consideration the following: a) to provide strong economic inducement for
polluters to modify their production or management processes or to invest in pollution control technology
in order to reduce the amount of water pollutants generated; b) to cover the cost of administering water
quality management or improvement programs, including the cost of administering the discharge permitting
and water pollution charge system; c) reflect damages caused by water pollution on the surrounding
environment, including the cost of rehabilitation; d) type of pollutant; e) classification of the receiving water
body; and f) other special attributes of the water body.
The technical aspect regarding the quality of wastewater is given in DENR Administrative Order 1990-35.
The order defines the critical water parameters’ value versus the classification of the body of water (e.g.,
lake or river). Discharge permits are issued by the LLDA only if the wastewater being discharged complied
with the said order
Healthy lakes and their shores not only provide us with a number of environmental benefits but
they influence our quality of life and they strengthen our economy. Proper lake function can ease the impact
of floods and droughts by storing large amounts of water and releasing it during shortages. Lakes also work
to replenish groundwater, positively influence water quality of downstream watercourses, and preserve the
biodiversity and habitat of the area. When the ecological puzzle pieces of a lake come together and the lake
is able to work as it should, the big picture is clear, we all stand to benefit from this important resource.
Lakes can provide us with prime opportunities for recreation, tourism, and cottage or residential
living. They are also respected by many people for their historical and traditional values and may be a
source of raw drinking water for a municipality. Lakes can also be used as a water supply for industry and
an irrigation source for agriculture.
So, you see lakes are more than just a simple body of water used by many people to enjoy
recreational activities. They are important ecosystems that, when respected and cared for, can sustain a
healthy balance of aquatic life, provide us with much enjoyment, and help support our socio-economic
needs. It is our responsibility to continue to practice stewardship in our lakes by keeping them healthy for
all, especially those who depend on them.
References:

Cf. Jose Rizal, El Filibusterismo, the subversion, Ger. translation from Günter Schwarz, http://www.rms-
gs.de/indexa.html, chapter 1
Rivers, The Lifeblood of Asia, http://www.ausaid.gov.au/publications/pdf/pasigriver.pdf, page 5
United Nations Study -- Pasig now one of the world's most polluted rivers, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 11-
11-2006
Pasig River system, Metro Manila, Murphy, Denis; Anana, Ted, Urban Poor Associates, Philippines.
Case study, 2004, in: http://www.hic-net.org/document.asp?PID=197
Moritz Kleine-Brockhoff, Squatting in Manila, http://www.heinz-kuehn-stiftung.de/pdf/jahrg15/_7.pdf
Rivers - The Lifeblood of Asia, http://www.ausaid.gov.au/publications/pdf/pasigriver.pdf, page 6
Blanche S. Rivera, 11 M in Metro have no sewer Access, 8-1-2005, in:
http://news.inq7.net/metro/index.php?index=1&story_id=45548
Avigail Olarte, RP's sanitation and sewerage problem among of the worst in Asia, in:
http://www.pcij.org/blog/?p=1033
Moritz Kleine-Brockhoff, Squatting in Manila, http://www.heinz-kuehn-
stiftung.de/pdf/jahrb15/jahrb15_7.pdf., p. 17
Elaine Ruzul S. Ramos, Pasig River boats back this year?, in: Manila Standard Today, 5.26.2006
http://www.llda.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=74&Itemid=475
Westfall, Matthew (6 September 2012). "Devil's Causeway: The True Story of America's First Prisoners
of War in the Philippines, and the Heroic Expedition Sen". Rowman & Littlefield – via Google Books.
Odal-Devora, Grace P. (2002), "'Bae' or 'Bai': The Lady of the Lake", in Alejandro, Reynaldo
Gamboa, Laguna de Bay: The Living Lake, Unilever Philippines, ISBN 971-922-721-4
"Laguna". Spanish Dict. Retrieved on 2012-10-18.
"Official Website of the Laguna Lake Development Authority". www.llda.gov.ph.