Residents & Fisherfolk Expresses Concern Over Alleged Chemical Dumping in Calamba City River
Residents and fisherfolk in Barangay Real, Calamba City, have expressed growing concern over alleged chemical dumping in the San Juan River.
Rolando Garcia Espedido, a Facebook user, shared a video of dead fish and thick foam seen floating in the San Juan River. The post quickly went viral online and garnered various reactions from internet users.
According to local residents, the situation worsened following heavy rains that recently affected the area. They observed dead fish appearing in the river along with large amounts of foam on the water’s surface.
Many residents believe that chemicals may have been released into the river during the downpour.
Some community members suspect that certain factories could be taking advantage of periods of heavy rainfall to dispose of chemical waste. They believe that the strong flow of rainwater may help conceal the discharge, making it more difficult to detect. However, authorities have not yet confirmed these claims and are continuing their investigation.
The incident has raised concerns among fisherfolk whose livelihoods depend on clean and healthy waterways. Many fear that continued contamination could harm fish populations and affect their ability to earn a living.
Several government agencies immediately conducted inspections in the area. Representatives from the Philippine Coast Guard, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Laguna Lake Development Authority collected water samples from the river for laboratory testing.
Local officials are particularly concerned because the San Juan River connects to Laguna de Bay, one of the country’s most important bodies of water and a major source of livelihood for thousands of fishermen.
They worry that if the problem is not addressed quickly, the contamination could spread and affect a much larger area.
Authorities are now waiting for the results of the laboratory analysis to determine the exact cause of the pollution.
The social media users expressed their reactions to the post:
