Fig. 26 Land Classification Map of Manila

Along with the rest of the cities in the National Capital Region (NCR), the City of Manila is resting on a ridge that is bounded by alluvial deposits of sand, gravel, and clay. An ample part of the city lies with swamps, marshes, and close to major waterways which makes it a good area for trading and commerce.

The whole of Manila is bisected into two parts by the Pasig River: The North and the South Manila. The river, about 25 kilometers long, is the main drainage of the city, which links the Manila Bay at the west and Laguna de Bay in the east. The Manila Bay coastline, however, is about 190 kilometers long and has a gradual deepening rate of 1%. The hierarchy of drainages of Manila ranges from the Pasig river - Manila Bay segment, going to the creeks, esteros, and large storm sewers that collects rainwater from all over the city. Then finally, the smallest drains or drainpipes that serves each block or property.

Manila’s climate belongs to the 1st Type, which has two pronounced seasons - dry during the months of November to April, and rainy or wet for the rest of the months.

Natural Resources and Environment The City of Manila has a total land area of 4,045.8 hectares; and approximately three percent of those are green spaces (Fig. 26).

Fig. 26 Land Classification Map of Manila

Even though the City of Manila is a highly urbanized and densely populated city, it is a home for several wildlife animals, green spaces, and a forest which act as the city’s breathing space amidst the skyscrapers. The Arroceros Forest Park, located beside the Metropolitan Theater, is the city’s “last lung” which was developed in 1993. Manila-mayor, Francisco Domagoso vowed to preserve the park and plans to make it a “nature park” (Taculao, n.d.).

Aside from the Arroceros Forest Park, the city also has the Manila Zoo and the Manila Ocean Park which is a home to Manila’s fauna, such as the Bengal Tiger and Malayan Civet, that tourists and young children can visit. Although the Manila Zoo remains to be closed indefinitely because of sewage treatment plant issues.

Major water and coastal resources are the Manila Bay and the Pasig river, although there are minor creeks and esteros that run all over Manila. The Manila Bay serves as a center for plenty of economic activities such as fisheries, aquaculture and agriculture.

The whole of Metropolitan Manila generally has a poor air quality because of the pollution that industrial infrastructures and vehicles emit. According to the World Health Organization, Manila has a mean PM2.5 of 29 (guideline value: 10) and PM10 of 118 (guideline value: 20).

On the other hand, the water quality of the Manila Bay and Pasig River was found to be improving but remains as poor quality. Last January 2019, samples were collected along Manila Bay and was quality tested.

Results showed that Manila Bay’s average fecal coliform level was at 330 million most probable number (mpn). While the ideal level for swimming is at 100 mpn (DENR, 2019). Meanwhile the water quality details of the Pasig River after its rehabilitation remains unknown.

The usual types of solid wastes that being thrown in Manila are the following: wet and dry household waste, industrial waste, commercial waste, and some hospital waste. Because of the rapid urban sprawl, and the density of industrial and commercial areas in Manila, the solid wastes in the city resulted in a total of 1,174.82 tons or 7,650.07 per day (Open Data Philippines, 2018). According to a study about Solid Waste Management in the cities of the Philippines, Metro Manila contributed 22.2% of PH solid waste generation in 2010 (Sapuay, 2018).

According to Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, the current landfill (Rodriguez Landfill in Rizal) that is taking up 6,000 tons/day of solid wastes of Metro Manila is soon to close in 2022. The Rodriguez Landfill was an alternative landfill of Metro Manila when the Payatas Landfill was closed a while ago (Parpan, 2017).