Rising Seas and Land Subsidence Threaten Philippine Island Community

On Pugad Island, a small community in the Philippines, daily life is increasingly dominated by the encroaching sea. Maria Tamayo, a 65-year-old street vendor and lifelong resident, begins each day before dawn, laboriously removing seawater from her home by scooping it out with a dustpan. Despite spending up to three hours on this exhausting task, water often remains, posing a danger to her grandchildren and disrupting their routine.

Pugad Island, a mere seven hectares in size, is rapidly sinking and at risk of becoming submerged. This vulnerable village, home to approximately 2,500 people, is part of Bulacan province, which is experiencing some of the fastest rates of land subsidence in the Philippines — nearly 11 centimeters annually, according to geologist Mahar Lagmay.

Lagmay attributes this alarming subsidence primarily to excessive groundwater extraction, compounded by rising sea levels driven by global warming. "The rates of subsidence (on Pugad Island) are quite high," he stated, emphasizing that while direct data from the island is limited, observations from surrounding areas illustrate a clear and concerning trend.

The rising tides now flood Pugad’s streets multiple times weekly, forcing residents to adapt their lives around the water. Schools alter schedules daily based on tide charts to protect children from flood-related illnesses. Houses have been elevated on stilts, and local businesses use raised tables to keep merchandise above water that can reach up to 1.5 meters during severe floods.

Nationally, sea levels around the Philippines are rising at three times the global average of 3.6 millimeters per year, with projections by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) suggesting this could accelerate to 13 millimeters annually. Karlo Queano, head of DENR's geosciences division, warned of the potential disappearance of coastal communities without comprehensive action.

Despite some localized measures, such as a prohibition on groundwater extraction in parts of Bulacan since 2004, a unified national response remains absent. The government does not expect to release a detailed plan until 2028.

Pugad Village Captain Jaime Gregorio lamented the difficulty of returning to normalcy. "I think it’s already impossible for our lives in the village to go back to normal because of climate change," he said. Infrastructure adjustments like raising roads occur every three years to sustain habitation, but inconsistent leadership hampers long-term flood mitigation efforts.

Maria Tamayo recalled the considerable financial toll on her family, which has spent approximately 200,000 pesos ($3,500) since 2022 to raise their home annually with gravel and concrete. Her profound connection to the island contrasts with the growing thought of relocation spurred by frequent high tides. Her husband, Rodolfo, emphasized the harsh economic realities of leaving: "We can’t go to [other places], we won’t have jobs there. We will go hungry."

Lagmay noted that reversing land subsidence is possible through strict regulation of groundwater use, but curbing sea-level rise requires global commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, a United Nations climate fund created in 2023 to assist vulnerable nations like the Philippines in managing climate impacts has yet to be operational.

Elenida Basug, DENR’s climate change service director, highlighted the issue of fairness: "We are talking of climate justice here. We have very little contribution to climate change, but we are very affected by its adverse effects."

Amid these challenges, Maria Tamayo called on the world’s major polluters to acknowledge their responsibilities. "We are the ones who are suffering... They are rich, so we cannot do anything. Even if we speak against them, who would listen?" she said, her words echoing the frustrations of many facing the frontlines of climate change.