MARIANO MARCOS STATE UNIVERSITY

16 Quiling Sur, 2906 Batac, Philippines

CASE STUDY

(REGION VIII – EASTERN VISAYAS)

Asuncion, Justine
Baloloy, Johannah
Cagat, Merylle Antonette
Racadio, Ruzzle James
Ranga, Rica
Siena, Shane Leeford
BSBA MM-1A

In Fulfillment of the Requirements in NATSCI 13

Ms. Angelica T. Baral

Mr. Edzer Roger Antolin
Environmental Science Instructors

December 16, 2021

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content Page

Table of Contents ....................................................................................................... II

CASE STUDY………………………………………………………………….…....1

I. Executive Summary……………………………………………….…...…1
II. Findings……………………………………………….............................. 3
Red Tide Contamination ......................................................................... 3
Localities Seeking National Help………………………………..….….4
Water Quality of Salcedo River.............................................................. 5
III. Discussion………… .................................................................................. 6
IV. Recommendation ........................................................................................8
Wastewater Treatment Program .............................................................8
Water We Gonna Do ..............................................................................10
Watershed Protection Program ...............................................................12
Water Pump Projects ..............................................................................13
Community Law on the Waters..............................................................13
V. Implementation .......................................................................................... 14
Wastewater Treatment Program ................................................................ 14
Water We Gonna Do .................................................................................. 16
Watershed Protection Program .................................................................. 19
Water Pump Projects.................................................................................. 20
Community Law on the Waters ................................................................. 20
VI. References .................................................................................................. 21

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I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Water is an important natural resource and should be managed in a holistic and

sustainable way. Today, the threat of inadequate safe water supply is real. Water is a key

development ingredient and should be made available to every human being. In the Philippines,

groundwater is the common source of water in cities, municipalities and rural areas.

Groundwater is primarily used by 60% of households, and in communities without the

convenience of piped water service from municipal or city water districts, or Metropolitan

Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) concessionaires, people use water from the nearby

“poso” or deep well.

The Philippines is endowed with rich water resources, with rivers and lakes covering

1,830 sq. km. and 421 river systems in 119 proclaimed watersheds. Water demand is expected

to increase from 1,303 m3 in 1995 to 3,955 m3 in 2025. There is an uneven distribution of

water resources throughout the country, resulting to water shortages in highly populated areas

especially during the dry season. When this happens, it may also affect the farmers and they

will be forced to reduce erosion and surface runoff from crop fields and logging operations.

This is such a huge burden to the farmers and it would cost enough to put many of them out of

business.

Region VIII—commonly known as Eastern Visayas, is one of the only two regions in

the Philippines fully surrounded by ocean bodies making its neighboring localities travel by

means of marine and aerial vehicles over land conveyance. This area is covered by six

provinces, namely: Biliran, Eastern Samar, Samar, Northern Samar, Leyte, and Southern Leyte.

The province has relatively flat plains along the shore, where the population centers are located,

but rough and rocky terrain in the interior. There are inland water-form characteristics in the

province. According to national statistics, the province has a total of 93 rivers.

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 This study focuses on the detrimental effects that Water Pollution has on the

constituents of Eastern Samar. At the end of the research, programs will be suggested to help

alleviate and eliminate aquatic environmental problems Region VIII has long suffered to.

Financing and Scheduling are further presented to each program to solidify its authenticity

based on recent studies, international laws, and already present programs that are adaptable

from other countries’ present mitigation projects.

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II. FINDINGS

Water Pollution—With its given geographical location in the Philippine Map, Region

VIII is mainly focused on fishing as one of its main sources of economic growth. With this,

comes the dreadful amount of using prohibited ways in fishing such as dynamites, poisoning,

and others.

1. Red Tide Contamination

In the 2nd of October, 2020, an incident of red tide contamination occurred in the waters

of Biliran Island in Eastern Visayas. 12 bodies of water in Eastern Visayas were declared

contaminated. The Economy of the region faced recession as Jiabong, the mussel capital of

Easter Visayas, was one of the cities affected and have incurred over Php 300,000 losses a day

since it began in July

According to the studies of Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) officer

Luzviminda Robin, seawater samples of Biliran revealed positive for ‘pyrodinium bahamense’,

a toxic microorganism that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning. During these times, people

were advised to stop selling, gathering, or even eating all types of shellfish and small shrimp

as it had the possible effect of poisoning those consuming it.

Another present in its aquatic atmosphere are the natural toxic microorganisms present

in its biosphere. Leni Dejeto-Tap, a marine biology professor of the University of the

Philippines, said the unpredictable weather condition in Region VIII is one of the contributing

factors for the presence of toxic algal blooms. These microscopic plants multiply under the

conditions of the continuous and alternate rainy and sunny days. To her study, the rains bring

in nutrients from sewers which act as fertilizers, and then the sunny days provide the light it

needs to grow. Furthermore, Yap concluded that the red tide is an indication of pollution as the

nutrients in the seawater found is unusually high.

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 2. Localities seeking National Help

On February 24, 2021, several public hearings have been lined up for the proposed

ordinance seeking to protect the Catarman River in Northern Samar and its tributaries.

Authored by Councilors Nerissa Daclag, Fernando Carpio, Lito Custorio, and Karl Andre

Balajadia, the proposed measure is called "Catarman River Protection and Conservation

Ordinance of 2021.”

The ordinance primarily seeks to rehabilitate the tributaries such as the twin

Maroyondoyon and Caglangkoy creeks in Molave village as well as the Taguibian River in

Cawayan village.

Since Feb. 17, public hearings have been held in the villages of Cervantes, Macagtas,

Bangkerohan, and Catarman town center. The town is the capital of Northern Samar province.

The Catarman River, a major provincial river in Northern Samar, divides the eastern and the

western parts of the capital town of the province. It is fed by several tributaries.

Under the proposed ordinance building of houses, toilets, pigpens, and other structures

within the buffer and easement zones of the river system will be prohibited, Daclag. Also

banned are littering, throwing, and dumping of solid waste; discharge of untreated liquid waste;

cutting of trees, bamboos, or nipa palms; use of chemical and other poisonous substances; and

dumping of special wastes along the river zones.

Once approved, violators will be fined PHP500 to PHP2,500 and be in jail for 15 to 30

days. Pollution at the river was due to rampant dumping of garbage, open defecation, and

discharge of wastewater into the streams.

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 3. Water Quality of Salcedo River, Salcedo Eastern Samar, Philippines

In a study by Merry Jean Caparas (2017), IHE Delft Institute of Water Education,

Salcedo River—one of the largest rivers of Eastern Visayas, there is poor aquatic protection

for both its environment and species living underneath the ocean. Based on the result, these

conclusions were derived:

• Giving no importance to the river system, urbanization, ill-planned

constructions of concrete embankments, direct discharge of human and animal

feces and urine, kitchen wastes, solid wastes and other effluents into Salcedo

River is putting the fish species under stress and water quality into concerned.

• The determined physiochemical characteristics in Salcedo River varies from

upstream to downstream gradient of the river system due to the different

anthropogenic activities observed within the watercourse. The result

highlighted that the water quality of the river is essential to understand the

overall impact of human activities

• Fish Species composition and distribution differ from different sampling

stations due to the different habitat preference and as affected by the various

anthropogenic activities in the river system

• Fishes identified were dominantly amphidromous which are highly tolerant to

physiochemical variations of the water. This indicated that the river is highly

distributed or poor in water quality

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III. DISCUSSION

Region VIII, also known as Eastern Visayas, is one of only two regions in the

Philippines that are completely surrounded by water, necessitating the use of marine and aerial

vehicles over terrestrial transportation. Six provinces, namely Biliran, Eastern Samar, Samar,

Northern Samar, Leyte, and Southern Leyte, cover this area. Inland water-form characteristics

can be found in the province. The province has a total of 93 rivers, according to national

statistics.

A red tide contamination incident happened in the waters of Biliran Island in Eastern

Visayas on October 2, 2020. In Eastern Visayas, 12 bodies of water have been designated

polluted. Jiabong, the mussel capital of Easter Visayas, was one among the cities devastated,

with daily losses of nearly Php 300,000 since the crisis began in July.

Given the magnitude of the difficulty that Region VIII has faced over the last decade,

it is obvious that it has a specific problem with water pollution—aquatic contamination. As a

result, the study's researchers propose possible proposals and projects to assist ease this

problem, ranging from family responsibility programs to large system enhancements in the

sewage system and wastewater treatment.

Wastewater treatment is a three-step process that removes microbes, contaminants, and

other pollutants from wastewater. This initiative recycles garbage by converting it to bilge

water, which can subsequently be discharged back into the environment.

Based on the implementation, the Water Waste Treatment System will be sold

worldwide, with a focus on the United States. The cost is estimated to be around $200,000.00.

Each system will cost Php 10,000,00.00 in Philippine Pesos. The six municipalities of Eastern

Visayas, namely Biliran, Eastern Samar, Samar, Northern Samar, Leyte, and Southern Leyte,

would purchase a total of six systems as the first deployment. To encourage citizens to join in
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the project, each city would contribute Php 73,750.00 to purchase the necessary equipment.

These will just serve as a starting point for each house so that they are not discouraged by the

costs that they will incur. Each household will receive three sacks, with 250 dwellings in each

city where the program will begin its activities. This will be followed by the Materials Recovery

Facility (MRF), which will separate rubbish into three categories: biodegradable, non-

biodegradable, and recyclable trash.

The programs will commence in January of the following year. This is so that citizens

may adapt their daily routines to the program. This will also ensure that the seeds grow steadily

enough until the wet seasons, when typhoons may sweep away young plants. The seeds will be

expected to be grown plants that are securely inserted from the ground in the middle of June

and July. Waste Segregation Evaluation will be done between the first six months and the first

year to see how the wastewater affects the environment. Another study, concentrating on the

proportion of water pollutants' effect on marine animals and people, will be undertaken in the

second part of the year.

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IV. RECOMMENDATIONS

With the given problem that Region VIII has experienced over the past decade,

it is clear to point out the specific problem it has with regards to Water Pollution—Aquatic

Contamination. That said, the Researchers of the study presents possible propositions and

projects that would help alleviate this problem by means of household responsibility programs

to major system developments with regards to the sewage system and its wastewater cleaning.

1. Wastewater Treatment Project

One of the main causes of Water Pollution in the area is from household waste, specifically

on liquid state. Wastewater, also known as raw sewage include but is not limited to water from

the bathroom, toilets kitchen and other industrial wastes. Micro-organisms are then created

and/or mixed together with these wastes which then go to sewers straight to the ocean. With

the given facts, there is a need for municipalities to have a project reducing or even eliminating

such problems in each area. This now comes the Wastewater Treatment Project.

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 Wastewater treatment is a 3-way process of removing micro-organisms, contaminants and

any other pollutants from the wastewater. This project converts waste into the bilge water

which can then be discharged back to the environments.

a. Primary Treatment.

This is the first step in municipal waste treatment. In here, there is a physical separation of

large solids from the waste streams. As raw sewage enters the treatment plan, it passes through

a metal grating that removes large debris and other physical objects. A Moving screen then

filters out smaller items. Brief residence in a grit tank allows sand and gravel to settle. The

waste stream then moves to the primary sedimentation tank where about half the suspended,

organic solids settle to the bottom as sludge, many pathogens remain in the effluent and it is

not yet safe to discharge into waterways or onto the ground.

b. Secondary Treatment.

After removing the physical items, this will consist now od biological degradation of the

dissolved organic compounds. The effluent from primary treatment flows into a trickling filter

bed, an aeration tank, or a sewage lagoon. The trickling filter is simply a bet of stones or

corrugated plastic sheets through which water drips from a system of perforated pipes. Bacteria

and other microorganisms in the bed catch organic material as it trickles past and aerobically

decompose it.

Air pumped through the mixture encourages bacterial growth and decomposition of the

organic materials. Water flows from the top of the tank and sludge is removed from the bottom.

Some of the sludge will be used as an inoculum for incoming primary effluent. The remainder

would be valuable fertilizer if it were not contaminated by metals, toxic chemicals, and

pathogenic organisms. The toxic content of most sewer sludge necessitates disposal by burial

in a landfill or incineration. Sludge disposal is a major cost in most municipal sewer budgets.

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In some communities this is accomplished by land farming, composting, or anaerobic

digestion, but these methods don’t inactivate metals and some other toxic materials

c. Tertiary Treatment

This process removes plant nutrients, especially nitrates and phosphates, from the

secondary effluent. Although wastewater is usually free of pathogens and organic materials

after secondary treatment, it still contains high levels of inorganic nutrients, such as the latter

stated. When discharged into surface waters, these nutrients also must be removed. Passage

through a wetland or lagoon can accomplish this. Alternatively, chemicals often are used to

bind and precipitate nutrients.

Since this project is based on American cities, we can see its effectively to their own

projects. In there, sanitary sewers are connected to storm sewers, which carry runoff from

streets and parking lots. Storm sewers are routed to the treatment plant rather than discharged

into surface waters because runoff from streets, yards, and industrial sites generally contains a

variety of refuse, fertilizers, pesticides, oils, rubbers tars, leads (from gasoline), and other

undesirable chemicals.

2. 'Water We Going to Do: Citizen's Participation in Preventing Water Pollution'

This program focuses on the Residents of Eastern Visayas to actively participate in

reducing waste induced to the ocean. The incident of the Red Tide contamination has realized

that there is an absurd amount of chemicals from manmade trash straightly put out from sewage

going out the ocean. With this activity, there will be seminars and workshops conducted first

on the capital cities of each province. This will only serve as the start-up process of the

program.

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Everyone recognizes the importance of safe drinking water. Nonetheless, a variety of activities

we do can contribute to water contamination in many ways. This article outlines several simple

and inexpensive ways to safeguard water at home and in the community by doing specific

things.

Citizens Participation Program:

a. Place the garbage in the trash can. Don't throw it inside your house, even if it's in a hole

where water can pass through. It resulted in a water shortage.

b. If you have a sump pump or a cellar drain inside your house, by contacting the city's

pollution control department. You should be able to find out. These devices

occasionally overflow into the town's sanitary sewer systems. Biological wastes, heavy

metals, cleaning chemicals, and other contaminants are dumped into the system by

Connection.

c. •Pouring fat and grease down the drain is not a good idea. It should either be thrown

away or kept in a jar. It's possible that your pipes will clog, causing sewer lines to clog

and back up into yards and basements.

d. Plant some trees in your yard. It is preferable to grow trees if your home has enough

space. These trees can help to decrease erosion, which can lead to contaminants being

washed into the water.

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3. Watershed Protection

To avoid this, we should unite and think of an alternative solution to protect

both the water supply and the long-term viability of agriculture in the region. The

agriculture will be the "preferred land use" on private land, and also agriculture has

"significant present and future environmental benefits." In addition, we can have a

voluntary, locally developed and administered program of "whole farm planning and

best management approaches" very similar to ecosystem based, adaptive management.

This grass-roots program, will be financed mainly by the city, but administered

by local farmers themselves, attempts to educate land owners, and provides alternative

marketing opportunities that help protect the watershed. Economic incentives are

offered to encourage farmers and foresters to protect the water supply. Collecting

feedlot and barnyard runoff in infiltration ponds together with solid conservation

practices such as terracing, contour plowing, strip farming, leaving crop residue on

fields, ground cover on waterways, and cultivation of perennial crops such as orchards

and sugarbush have significantly improved watershed water quality.

In addition to saving billions of money, this innovative program can help create

good will between the city and its neighbors. The upstream cleanup, prevention, and

protection are cheaper and more effective than treating water after it's dirty. Farmers

will learn that they can be part of the solution, not just part of the problem. Watershed

planning through cooperation is effective when local people are given a voice and

encouraged to participate.

4. Water Pump Projects

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 Local governments should implement a water pump station for every barangay

in for good quality water for drinking, cooking and even for washing. The barangays

tend or the volunteers should help building the water pump station for faster estimated

time building. This program will be a big help for the people that has poor water quality

in each barangay.

5. Community Law on the Waters

Each City proper must create an online seminar on how to file case against the

polluters. For those who are affected of polluted rivers, ocean, etc. And creating an

organization to clean the area they are situated at. Those who will be seen dumping

his/her garbage to riverside or the river itself, ocean. Should be fine based on how many

garbage he/she dumped in. Every cottage or any place where people resting alongside

the river must have a trash bins/sack

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V. IMPLEMENTATION

1. Wastewater Treatment Project

Overall Price

Particulars Quantity Price per Item (In Philippine Peso)

(In Philippine Peso)

Water Waste 6 10,000,000.00 60,000,000.00

Treatment System

Sewage Renovation 6 150,000.00 900,000.00

& Making

Total 60,900,000.00

The Water Waste Treatment System will be bought internationally—specifically in United

States. The estimation is around $200,000.00. Converted in Philippine Peso, each system will

cost Php 10,000,00.00. A total of 6 systems will be bought as the first implementation will be

from the 6 municipalities of Eastern Visayas, specifically: Biliran, Eastern Samar, Samar,

Northern Samar, Leyte, and Southern Leyte.

Another cost will be bought for Sewage Renovation and Making for a pattern to reach

the water waste treatment system. So that overflow will be avoided there will be separate

sewage that is approximate for the system to work, and another to go straight to the ocean.

There will still be inevitable uncollected trash that will be put out was the system won’t be able

to collect everything. However, this program will still be at its start and it will be expected to

be expanded more in its future activations.

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Scheduling

The program will start the month it will order from abroad. Eastern Visayas will request

its order of 6 water waste systems on May of the following year. There is an expected waiting

period of three months before fully purchasing all sets. The waiting period will start from

August to December as protocol for its shipping period since it is the products will be shipped

through boats instead of planes as the size and weight is not of normal estimation.

On January of 2023, the official renovations and putting in place of the sets will be

started. The date will be in line for the Climate of the Philippines as there will be no further

disturbances in terms of heavy rainfall and storms. By June-July, 2023, the program will

officially start as here are the expected times that typhoons will be visiting the Philippine Area

of Responsibility. This will also cover the evaluation of the program as the municipalities will

foresee its effectivity by comparing data and instances (i.e., the red tide contamination) from

year 2022 and 2023.

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 2. 'Water We Gonna Do: Citizen's Participation in Preventing Water Pollution'

Households Overall Price

Particulars Quantity Price per Item (Ave. No. of (In Philippine

(In Philippine Household x 6 Peso)

Peso) Cities)

Sacks 3 pcs / house 5.00 1500 22,500.00

Buckets 1 pc/ house 120.00 1500 180,000.00

Seeds 2 packs / house 80.00 1500 240,000.00

442,500.00

Total

a) Household Activities

So that Citizens would be inspired to participate in the project, each city will fund Php

73,750.00 each to buy equipment necessary. These will only serve as the start-up for each house

so that they won’t be discouraged in looking the expenses that they will accumulate. Three

sacks will be given each household with 250 houses each city where the program will start its

activities. This is to follow the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where there will be a

segregation of trash into: Biodegradable, Non-biodegradable, and Recyclable Trash. The

Buckets and seeds will be for encouraging tree-planting in each household. This is due to

Eastern Visayas’ geographical assessment of being prone to storm surges. It is scientifically

known that trees help lessen the impact of floods to cities.

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 b) City Workshops

Overall Price

Particulars Quantity Price per Item (In Philippine Peso)

(In Philippine Peso)

Mineral Water 20 boxes 100.00 12,000.00

Juice 20 boxes 110.00 12,000.00

Biscuit 20 boxes 50.00 6,000.00

Tarpaulin 8 per City 200.00 9,600.00

Total 39,600.00

Capital Cities of each Municipality will be undertaking a seminar with regards to waste

segregation and the activity of reducing wastewater from mixing trash from groundwater. The

instructions for the citizen’s participation program will also include the best performing city

which will receive a total of Php 50,000.00 as reward and an additional Php 10,000.00 will be

given to the respective beneficiary of the chosen city to help marginalized families.

In tarpaulins, the content will be filled with the instructions for the programs as to

expect that the Citizens won’t fully adapt on just one seminar.

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Scheduling

The program will start at the beginning of the Year. This is so that the citizens could

adjust their household activities to the program. This will also in preparation of the seeds

growing steadily enough until the rainy seasons where typhoons could wash up plants on their

early phase. On the midst of June-July, the seeds will be expected to be grown plants that are

firmly put from the ground. Waste Segregation Evaluation will be conducted in between the

first six months to the effect of the wastewater as compared to its microscopic studies on the

past year. On the latter half of the year, another study will be conducted focusing on the

percentage of water chemicals’ effect to marine animals and to the people.

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 3. Watershed Protection

Particulars Cost

Coagulant Additions 110,000.00

Increased Filter Backwashes 550,000.00

Treatment Improvements 5,000,000.00

Total Cost 5,660,00.00

This project will improve water quality and maintain enhanced water quality in high quality

lakes. The general strategy is to implement improvements starting at the top of the watershed

and move toward the outlet. This strategy will allow the watershed managers to begin

improvements where the projects have the most impact throughout the watershed. Upstream

water quality improvements lead to better water quality in downstream lakes, spreading water

quality improvements through the watershed. Upstream improvements are supported by

focused projects that address water quality improvements from upland areas draining directly

to lakes.

Scheduling

The program will start at the beginning of the year. Procurement of construction

contractors and final environmental permits may take months. Actual construction typically

spans 2-4 months depending on the size of the project and time of year. Although the entire

process can take several years, maintaining a proactive attitude and fostering good relationships

among landowners, competent consultants, etc. can reduce the time needed to implement a

watershed project. The project will have continued operations and maintenance for many years

beyond the

implementation of it.

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 4. Water Pump Projects
Particular Quantity Price

Sack 3 per resting area 5 pesos each

This will be placed in each barangay of all city proper of Eastern Visayas. There is no

estimated total expense of the region as there is no data available of the total number of possible

resting areas in each barangay in Region VIII. However, the estimation for expense in each

resting area will be covered. Three sacks will be placed in each to follow the MRF protocol for

recyclables, biodegradables, and non-biodegradable.

5. Community Law on the Waters

Finance

The estimated budget or the price of the project per barangay is 3k to 5k, this budget

will go to the materials like cement, water pump and other materials that will be used in the

project, the budget for labor is 7k depends on how many will volunteer. The money that will

be used in the project will be covered by the government funds and barangays contributions.

Scheduling

The scheduling of the project is 10 barangays per month. Monthly, because base

on the budget we can’t start the project to all barangays at once and for the project to be

successful, unlike other known project that they just started but didn’t finished because of lack

of budget money. It may a slow process because there are 569 barangays who will be given

water pump but it will be worth it. We will start this project by next year month of February.

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VI. REFERENCES

Amazona, R. (2021, February 24). Northern Samar town seeks protection of major river.

GOV.PH. Retrieved December 15, 2021, from

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1131698?fbclid=IwAR2ts3yUiBXdITKrovRtkoTl1H

8YrMkI-hnMqCY4sKbKClle5BNHmqsweMI

Caparas, M. J. (2017). The Water Quality Of Salcedo River, Salcedo Eastern Samar,

Philippines. LAP Lambert Academic Publishing.

Cunningham, W. P., Cunningham, M. A., & Saigo, B. W. (2007). Environmental Science: A

Global Concern (7th ed., Vol. 1). McGraw-Hill.

Enger, E., & Smith, B. (2006). Environmental Science: A Study of Interrelationships (11th ed.).

McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

Meniano, S. (2021, August 31). Red tide persists in 5 eastern visayas bays. GOV.PH. Retrieved

December 15, 2021, from

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1152084?fbclid=IwAR04aXz8dQAmq6Hh-

sLjPTGuY1C9PI_sRCiAUyzmajO7kIGMyZu4HZ8NwwY

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