Water
The Philippines ranks among the lowest in freshwater availability. In 2008 the country's freshwater per capita was 1907 cubic meters, which is extremely low compared to the worldwide average of 7045 cubic meters and the Asian average of 3668 cubic meters (The Manila Times, 2008). In the Philippines, water scarcity has been a big issue due to rapid economic and population growth, coupled with poor planning (Oxford Analytica Daily Brief Service, 1995). Before 1997, deforestation, which was occurring at a rate three times higher than the global average, was one of the main factors leading to this issue. In 1995, about 10% of citizens in Manila face water scarcity (Oxford Analytica Daily Brief Service, 1995). The groundwater table was being lowered due to over-extraction, which resulted in the risk of salt water seeping into the reservoir. In 2000, the government launched a project to collect water from Umiray River.
Today, Metro Manila receives water from the Angat, Ipo, and La Mesa Dams (Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, 2014). The collected water is processed through 5 aqueducts to the La Mesa Dam. The Balara Treatment Plant and La Mesa Treatment Plant together treat the city's sewage, and can reach a total processing capacity of 4,000 mld. According to the World Bank data, groundwater in the Philippines are used in the following ways: 63% for domestic use, 17% for industry, 13% for agriculture, and 1% for power generation (The Manila Times, 2008).
Today, Metro Manila receives water from the Angat, Ipo, and La Mesa Dams (Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, 2014). The collected water is processed through 5 aqueducts to the La Mesa Dam. The Balara Treatment Plant and La Mesa Treatment Plant together treat the city's sewage, and can reach a total processing capacity of 4,000 mld. According to the World Bank data, groundwater in the Philippines are used in the following ways: 63% for domestic use, 17% for industry, 13% for agriculture, and 1% for power generation (The Manila Times, 2008).
Minerals
Although the Philippines is not rich in fossil fuels, its rocks formed from volcanism contain many valuable minerals (Holden et al, 2012). There are an estimated 21.5 billion metric tons of metal deposits in the Philippines and 19.3 billion metric tons of nonmetal minerals in the ground. Nickel is the most abundant deposit in the Philippines, while iron and copper are also present in significant amounts (Morgan, 2014).
The Philippines posses a lot of ore deposits from epithermal mineralization (Holden et al, 2012). According to the United States Geological Survey, most of the mineral deposits found in the country are nonferrous metals, which historically accounted for 75% of the production value and almost 100% of all mining revenue values.
The Philippines posses a lot of ore deposits from epithermal mineralization (Holden et al, 2012). According to the United States Geological Survey, most of the mineral deposits found in the country are nonferrous metals, which historically accounted for 75% of the production value and almost 100% of all mining revenue values.
The Philippines has a history of mining of over 1,000 years. Gold mining first began in the third century, which started a trend in mining activity in the country. By the 14th century, copper mining was a large part of the country's economy (Holden, 2012). However, it was only after the American colonial period of 1898 to 1946 that large-scale mining projects commenced in the country.
The table on the left shows the quantities and values of mineral production in the Philippines in the year 2011. Mining is extremely important to the country's economy.
The table on the left shows the quantities and values of mineral production in the Philippines in the year 2011. Mining is extremely important to the country's economy.