The death of Manila

While many residents of Manila are visiting their departed loved ones today and tomorrow, the irony is soon they will be living in a city that is literally dead. It is no longer an exaggeration to say that Metro Manila is dying. This city is probably “older than Mahoma” because it has already reached its saturation point. And like an old vehicle that has been completely depreciated and neglected over the years, it is now experiencing its death throes. The leak at the West Tower Condominium is just the tip of the iceberg that should tell us just how bad the situation is becoming, with no one really knowing how many of these old pipes owned by First Philippine Industrial Corp. and located underneath many other barangays and communities in the metropolis — also have leaks that are strong indications of a potential major disaster.

Concerned West Tower Condominium residents Volney Ricafort (whose four-month-old grandson is the youngest condominium resident) and architect Bobby Dimayuga are relieved that FPIC has finally admitted being the source of the oil leak that forcibly displaced WT residents. But they are not completely satisfied because of the seeming disregard shown by the FPIC officials for the safety of Barangay Bangkal’s residents and the company’s reported attempt to mislead the public and “cover up the mess,” initially insisting their pipeline was not the source of the leak. They even commissioned international entities to conduct such tests as ground penetrating radar (GPR), MFL (Magnetic Flux Leakage) test, and UT (Ultrasonic Testing) to show there was no leak coming from their pipeline. This obviously is a major concern by WT residents, compounded by the FPIC CEO’s panic threats to the general public of an oil shortage if they “turn off” the pipes without any concern whatsoever for the loss of life.

“It is fortunate that West Tower’s deep basement served as a catch basin and alerted the community to the ongoing fuel pollution building up underneath their homes. What is happening underneath other communities traversed by FPIC’s pipeline? Let FPIC produce its pipeline’s maintenance records for the past 10 years,” Volney wrote us, deploring the fact that “FPIC has not shown any remorse for the damage to Barangay Bangkal.”

Indeed, the situation in Makati and other cities that comprise Metro Manila could become untenable. With a population last estimated at 13 million but more accurate estimates actually reaching close to 16 million and still counting, the World Health Organization has already predicted that Metro Manila will be uninhabitable due to resources being completely stretched to the limit. As the influx of people continues, pollution will just get worse mainly from toxic fumes coming from jeepneys, buses and other motor vehicles as the traffic becomes more unbearable.

Widespread poverty and unemployment will compound health and hygiene problems, with people living in shanties using creeks and the Pasig River itself as their private sewage and garbage dump. Leaks from old MWSS water pipelines (said to be the oldest water system in Asia) that are submerged in polluted canals and trash-filled sewers add to the health risks faced by Metro Manila residents, with Coliform and all sorts of bacteria being carried through these contaminated pipes straight to households. Do we still wonder then why there are widespread diseases like dengue, sore eyes, asthma and leptospirosis in Metro Manila?

While there are people like our friend Gina Lopez who have been tirelessly working for the rehabilitation of Pasig River, she practically has to perform miracles in convincing “informal settlers” who continue to resist any relocation efforts. A big stretch of the 25-kilometer Pasig River is lined by shanties, and years of neglect plus tons of silt and garbage has killed what was once considered as the river of life.

Climate change has also obviously made the conditions in Manila even more deplorable, with Ondoy showing just how devastating the situation could be. The World Bank has predicted that Metro Manila will continue to experience flooding worse than the devastation brought by Typhoon Ondoy.

People may not be aware that Metro Manila, with all of its 16 cities and one municipality — lies on a wide flood plain or a vast expanse of flat, level land situated along streams and rivers that naturally overflow during the rainy season. Unprecedented urbanization, unplanned housing and other development had constricted and narrowed down waterways that hamper the natural flow of water from rivers, creeks and canals. And while most Philippine cities are located above sea level, a number of Metro Manila cities like Malabon, Navotas and Caloocan are situated below sea level — making them even more vulnerable to flooding. People living in gated communities now know their high walls will not protect them from the surrounding poverty and Mother Nature’s revenge.

Overpopulated mega cities like Mumbai in India are prime examples of what could be considered as one of the world’s most polluted and most crowded cities. Poverty, unemployment and squalor mark many places, with an area known as Dharavi having the dubious distinction as the world’s largest slum colony. The stench on the streets has become so unbearable that walking through them could literally kill you due to air pollution. We are not very far from Mumbai. When people visit the cemeteries today and tomorrow, they may be shocked to know that there are actually people living there with the dead. And like Mumbai, Metro Manila where many of us were born and grew up in, could easily become a city where death literally stalks the streets.

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