Philippines: Rising sea levels or sinking land?

Coastal regions in the Philippines have been regularly flooded for years. On the island of Tibaguin in the north of Manila Bay, only the houses are visible above the water. Roads, sidewalks and gardens are completely flooded. Rising sea levels are only partly responsible for this.

Fishermen unload their catch at the fishing port of Hagonoy. Experts see a connection between the sinking of inhabited coastal regions and excessive groundwater drilling to supply the population and industry. Added to this are geological changes caused by earthquakes and land reclamation projects.

In everyday life, this means that people in the Philippines constantly have "wet feet." During a religious ceremony honoring the Virgin Mary, a young woman in festive clothing wades through the deep water. In coastal villages, the water has been rising steadily for years. Even small tidal waves lead to flooding, not to mention the severe tropical storms.

There are large-scale land reclamation projects in Manila Bay. Land is being reclaimed from the bay on a grand scale for mega construction projects such as the new international airport in the Philippines. Many residents are convinced that such massive environmental interventions have worsened the flooding.

Dry branches of dead mangroves protrude from the salty seawater. Mangrove forests provided natural protection against flooding. However, industrial environmental interventions and the urbanization of coastal regions have destroyed many mangrove forests in the Philippines. Environmental organizations are campaigning for their reforestation as a protective "green belt."

From the window, a young girl plays with leaves on the surface of the water. Flooded residential areas are now commonplace in the Philippines. To adapt, roads must be raised higher and higher, rice fields must be converted into fish ponds, and living areas must be moved to higher floors.

The home of Rolando and Bernadette Laudiangco on the island of Pugad is also regularly flooded. Experts are increasingly urging that the man-made causes of flooding be addressed to better protect the population from rising sea levels.