Ilang lugar sa Bulacan at Malabon, bakit lumulubog sa tubig? (Full Episode) | Reporter's Notebook

Summary

The video explores the sinking of Sitio Paryahan in Bulacan due to land subsidence, a process exacerbated by excessive groundwater extraction. The residents, including students like DJ, navigate the daily challenges of living in a flooded area, where even schools and churches are submerged. As the land sinks, families struggle with accessing clean water and maintaining their homes. The video also highlights the broader impact on other areas like Malabon and Ubando, where rising sea levels and land subsidence threaten livelihoods. It concludes by discussing possible solutions to mitigate these issues, emphasizing the importance of resilience and adaptation to climate change.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Sitio Paryahan in Barangay Taliptip, Bulacan, is facing severe land subsidence, which has caused many houses to be submerged in water over time.
• 😀 High rates of land subsidence, particularly in Bulacan, have caused rapid sinking of the land, which is exacerbated by excessive groundwater extraction.
• 😀 Residents of Sitio Paryahan, such as DJ, a Grade 7 student, travel by boat to get to school, often enduring dangerous conditions and missing class due to weather.
• 😀 Despite submerging water levels, some community structures, like the local church, continue to hold monthly masses, with half of the church submerged.
• 😀 Aling Benedicta, a long-time resident, shared that Sitio Paryahan used to be a rice field before rising sea levels and land subsidence gradually submerged the area.
• 😀 Many families in Sitio Paryahan still rely on a well for drinking water, even though it has also been affected by the sinking land.
• 😀 In addition to land subsidence, the impact of sea-level rise poses a further threat, with entire areas becoming permanently submerged, especially in coastal towns like Malabon and Navotas.
• 😀 Some communities in Bulacan, like Barangay Lawa, have been dealing with increasing flooding, with houses built on stilts and residents using rafts to navigate their submerged neighborhoods.
• 😀 In the case of Sax Compound in Malabon City, daily life has become increasingly difficult due to rising water levels and the need to use boats to get anywhere.
• 😀 Solutions to mitigate land subsidence include controlling groundwater extraction and implementing measures like seawalls, though much of the affected population, particularly the poor, are left vulnerable to these natural phenomena.

Q & A

What is the main issue faced by the residents of Sitio Paryahan?

The residents of Sitio Paryahan are primarily affected by land subsidence, which has caused their community to sink into the water, leading to the destruction of houses, schools, and local infrastructure. Rising water levels, driven by both natural processes and human activity, have submerged significant parts of their land.

How has land subsidence affected the local schools?

Land subsidence has caused the local schools to become unusable. One of the school buildings is now abandoned with only walls remaining, while the other was submerged by water due to flooding and lack of proper maintenance after typhoons.

What unique challenges do children in Sitio Paryahan face when attending school?

Children like DJ have to travel by boat for up to 40 minutes to reach school, and they often miss classes when the weather is bad. The boats are often small and unstable, and when it rains heavily, the children get wet and sometimes cannot make the journey at all.

How do the residents of Sitio Paryahan adapt to the rising water levels?

The residents adapt by using boats to navigate their submerged community. They also rely on a mix of traditional practices like fishing and harvesting oysters for income, but they live in constant uncertainty due to the rising water levels and the lack of solid ground.

Why is there a lack of clean water for the residents of Sitio Paryahan?

The residents of Sitio Paryahan face a lack of clean water because their wells have been submerged by the rising waters. Despite this, they continue to rely on these wells for drinking water, which poses a significant health risk.

What is the role of the local government in addressing the issues in Sitio Paryahan?

The local government of Bulacan has been taking steps to evacuate those most affected by the flooding and land subsidence. They are also considering the construction of seawalls to protect the area from further damage, though many residents are reluctant to leave due to their long history in the area.

How does land subsidence occur, and what are its main causes?

Land subsidence is a natural process where the ground gradually sinks. However, human activities such as excessive groundwater extraction have accelerated this process. When too much water is pumped from underground wells, the soil compacts and causes the surface to sink.

What is the impact of sea-level rise on communities like Sitio Paryahan?

Sea-level rise exacerbates the sinking of land in coastal areas like Sitio Paryahan. As the sea levels increase, seawater floods the land, further submerging the already sinking communities, and displacing residents, making it harder for them to live and sustain their livelihoods.

What could happen to areas in Metro Manila by the year 2060 if current trends continue?

If current trends of land subsidence and sea-level rise continue, parts of Metro Manila, including areas in Malabon, Navotas, and Manila, could be submerged by up to two meters of water by 2060. By 2110, some areas could experience water depths of 4 to 10 meters.

What solutions are being suggested to mitigate land subsidence in affected areas?

To mitigate land subsidence, it is suggested to control the extraction of groundwater, implement a water system to reduce dependency on deep wells, and perform geotechnical studies before construction to assess the soil condition. Seawalls are also being considered to protect coastal communities from further flooding.