Case Study

Manila Bay
Facts
• Manila Bay is a natural harbour which serves the Port of Manila (on
Luzon), in the Philippines
• area of 1,994 km2 (769.9 sq mi), and a coastline of 190 km (118.1 mi),
Manila Bay is situated in the western part of Luzon and is bounded by
Cavite and Metro Manila on the east, Bulacan and Pampanga on the
north, and Bataan on the west and northwest
• Pampanga River contributing about 49% of the freshwater influx
• Coastal and marine habitats in the area include upland forests,
mangrove, mudflats, sandy beaches, sea grass and coral reefs
• Drained by 16 major river systems
• Angat River, Bocaue River, Guagua River, Marilao River, Meycauayan
River, Obando River, Pampanga River, Sta. Maria River and Talisay
River (Region III); Canas River, Imus River, Rio Grande River and Ylang-
Ylang River (Region IVA) and Meycauayan-Valenzuela River, Navotas-
Malabon-Tullahan-Tinejeros River, Paranaque River and Pasig River
(NCR)
Depth Manila Bay
Circulation
• Affected primarily by 1. tides,
freshwater discharge, 3. wind
stress
Issues and Concerns
1. Increased population growth
2. Environmnetal challenges
• Untreated effluent discharges from domestic, commercial and industrial
sources.
• Increasing pollution loading from vessels
• Improperly disposed solid wastes.
Laguna Lake Development Authority- impose penalties on
establishments polluting Manila Bay
Definition of Terms
• Total coliform count offers a general indication of the condition of
water supply
• Higher the count, the poorer the water’s condition
• Fecal coliforms are the coliform that is found in the digestive tract of
animals and humans
• Fecal coliform is an indicator of fecal contamination
• Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a major species of the fecal coliforms
Biochemical oxygen demand
(BOD)
• Amount of dissolved oxygen used by
microorganisms in the biological process
of metabolizing organic matter in water.
• The more organic matter there is (e.g., in
sewage and polluted bodies of water),
the greater the BOD
• The greater the BOD, the lower the
amount of dissolved oxygen available for
higher animals such as fishes.
• BOD is therefore a reliable gauge of the
organic pollution of a body of water.
Water Classification based on DENR
 Some Example Parameters
Parameter Unit AA SA SB SC SD
Fecal coliform MPN/100 mL 20 100 200 No limit No limit
Oil/grease Mg/L nil 1 1 2 5
Dissolved % 70 70 70 70 70
oxygen
Twenty years ago, January 1999, a group of concerned citizens, led by UP Law students
and Prof Tony Oposa, filed an ambitious lawsuit in a trial court south of Manila. The
petitioners, including the Manila Bay residents of the tahong (mussels) and talaba(oysters),
sued practically the entire Philippine government for a simple prayer: Please clean up
Manila Bay.
• Supreme Court issued a continuing mandamus
• 13 government agencies were ordered to report the clean-up progress to the
Supreme Court every 3 months. This will continue until the Manila Bay's waters
are fit for swimming.
Dissolved Oxygen
• Class SC dissolved oxygen should
be 5.6 mg/L
STATION 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Manila Bay
Navotas

Luneta Park
8090
28000 92000 13733.3 13400000
Fecal Coliform
CCP
50100
– – 540000 12466.6 2500000 Count
MOA
PEATC
–
–
–
–
54000
16000
200000
6666
5580000
926000 (2011-2015)
Bacoor, Cavite 160000 18331.31 34666 23000
33000
Noveleta, Cavite1 –Lido 160000 9813.2 11833 7733.33
5030
Noveleta, Cavite2 –
160000 10300.73 1860 11933.33
Villamar 1150
Rosario, Cavite – San Isidro 4550 50000 19205.53 20100 456666.67

Tanza, Cavite 1 –Celebrity 30000 10720.22 34666.6 153333.33

2420
Tanza, Cavite 2 –Garden
3500 3179.1 17410 21766.67
Coast 1670
Naic, Cavite 1 – Costa
16000 6719.23 1266.6 22666.67
Eugenia 4470
Naic, Cavite 2 – Villa
3000 19381.04 1126.6 34000
Criselda 2120
DENR WATER QUALITY 200mpn/100 200mpn/100 200mpn/100 200mpn/100
200mpn/100
CRITERIA ml ml ml ml
ml
Boracay in comparison