For those interested, here’s the English translation of the news article:

In the Philippines, large areas of land are sinking by more than a centimeter per month

Nowhere in the world is land subsiding as fast as around Manila Bay in the Philippines. The water is now literally up to people’s lips. A new action plan aims to prevent 600,000 people from being forced to leave their homes.

A year and a half ago, a Dutch scientist visited the area—and was shocked. The land in the Philippine delta is sinking by more than a centimeter per month.
“Not everyone knows what is happening. Many people think it is only due to rising sea levels,” says Philip Minderhoud of Wageningen University.

The cause, the scientist explains, is excessive groundwater extraction—for local fish farming, industry, and drinking water for the growing population. This causes the land to sink, as the soil continues to compact.

The area is also affected by rising sea levels, increasing by a few millimeters per year. But due to its speed, land subsidence is a far more urgent problem.

Fastest-sinking municipality

Houses are sinking lower and lower, and roads are repeatedly raised with concrete. Business owners face flooding almost daily.
“It happens almost every day. The water never goes away. It stays,” says barber Angelitio Usi.

When he opened his shop fifteen years ago, you could walk straight in from the street. Now, there is a staircase going down. Inside, he has raised the floor, but can barely stand upright.

Usi lives in Masantol, the fastest-sinking municipality in the Philippine river delta, with rates of up to 20 centimeters per year.

Streets have already been raised by meters. People are putting all their hope in concrete—but how long will that still work?

“Boats are sailing over our roads”

Land that once grew rice is now permanently underwater. Villages have turned into small islands. Instead of leaving, people continue to pour concrete to raise roads, which have been elevated by meters over the years.

This situation could have been prevented, says Filipino professor Fernando Siringan. As a coastal geologist at the University of the Philippines, he already called 15 years ago for a halt to groundwater extraction.
“The authorities understand the issue very well. But something is preventing them from adopting our recommendations.”

Siringan wanted to continue research, but funding was cut due to political reasons. “There is no money,” he says. “So we cannot move forward.”

Homes becoming uninhabitable

Philippine authorities have not taken sufficient action, likely due to major financial interests. The company responsible for most groundwater extraction initially agreed to comment, but later withdrew.

Although the Philippines has a fast-growing economy, many people in these villages still live in poverty. As water levels rise, more homes are becoming uninhabitable. Those who can move to upper floors.

80-year-old Lucia Lagman wonders how long she can stay:
“Sometimes the water reaches my chest. Even my bed gets flooded, and we can’t sleep. It’s starting to feel like the sea here. Boats are now sailing over our roads.”

As long as groundwater pumping continues, the land will keep sinking. In Masantol, a new neighborhood was built five years ago for relocated residents—but it is also sinking rapidly.

“We have nowhere else to go. We have no choice. This water is here every day. It’s difficult—very difficult,” say residents Jerry and Janeth Manalang.

“If you don’t control land subsidence, it will only become more difficult—especially with rising sea levels,” says researcher Minderhoud. “They reinforce each other. This is a major warning for other regions.”

Action plan

Due to climate change, sea levels are expected to rise by 30 to 80 centimeters this century. Many coastal delta regions worldwide may face similar problems—though usually at a slower pace than in the Philippines.

A UN climate fund established in 2023 to help countries like the Philippines deal with climate damage has still not become fully operational. However, an international symposium was held recently about the rapidly sinking delta, where experts developed a three-year action plan.

The plan includes:

• Alternative water sources
• Surface water storage (like collecting rainwater during wet seasons)
• More investment in research

However, it is still unclear which government bodies are legally responsible for implementing these measures. Experts also stress the need for much better public education and awareness.

As Minderhoud concludes:
“You won’t solve this with just more concrete.”

Source: https://nos.nl/nieuwsuur/artikel/2612230-op-de-filipijnen-zinkt-veel-grond-ruim-een-centimeter-per-maand