Task: As a group, complete the table below.

This helps you in preparing for the Essay Outline

and Problem Solution Essay in succeeding sessions.

Names of the Members: Beraquit, Carlyn Gayle L.

Problem to Focus on:
UN SDG where it belongs:
Specific Place or
Community where the
Problem is commonly
observed:
The root cause of the
problem:
Ilagan, Kassandra Mae T.
Seña, Ma. Cristina Melissa P.
Microplastics in Bodies of Water
Life Below Water
Pasig River
Improper Plastic Waste Management
● A common issue in the Philippines is the lack of proper
waste management leading to people ending up disposing
of waste not only on the streets but in the river as well,
effectively disrupting the once prosperous ecosystem.

The Culture of using Single-Use Plastics

The areas or group of Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay
people affected by the
problem and explain briefly
how it affects them:
● Although there is already a law mandated to ban
single-use plastic, it has yet to be strictly enforced
nationwide to ensure the reduction of environmental
issues such as microplastics in bodies of water.
● Due to plastics being cheaper and more convenient,
eco-friendly alternatives such as biodegradable
packaging, reusable utensils, and eco-bags are still not a
common practice among businesses and citizens alike.
● These are two essential bodies of water in the capital
directly connected to the Pasig River, which eventually
leads to the world’s oceans, implying that the river’s
condition affects our seas. Pasig River is known to be one
of the top contributors to ocean trash.

Marine life

Your proposed solution
(describe and explain
briefly):
What discipline/s are
involved in the solution
(Provide the discipline and
explain how exactly they
can help in mitigating the
problem):
● Ocean creatures see microplastics as food due to their
small size and, thus, suffer from such consumption.
● Plastic possesses toxic elements that could cause diseases
and interfere with reproduction due to contaminated
water.
● Many marine animals have been found to have choked to
death or become ill as a result of plastic ingestion. Seals
and other animals may suffer for months or years after
consuming microplastics before dying.
Citizens of and nearby Pasig City and Informal settlers along the
Pasig river
● People dependent on the river for food and water supply
may also unknowingly consume microplastics in their
digestive system.
● Various studies also suggest discovering microplastics in
the human respiratory system, and this could lead to
health risks relating to the inhabitants of the Pasig river.
Microplastics are too small to collect manually. Thus, our
proposed solution is to fabricate systematic instruments that
methodically clean the river regularly, such as ocean filters and
seabins, to regulate the microplastics that go into bodies of water
while also being sustainable and simplistic in nature.
Seabins, for example, allow the water to filter itself in a
continuous manner by naturally flowing through the bin,
requiring only minimal labor to collect and manage the
microplastic and other waste.
Humanities and Social Sciences
● Organizations dedicated to actively implementing the
project, such as the Sagip Pasig Movement, will advocate
and disseminate information about this project.
● Those willing or passionate about supporting the
advocacy through volunteer work will significantly help
fulfill this initiative.
Research
 ● Further innovation and evaluation of potential
instruments are needed to sustain the project effectively.
● Researchers will assess the appropriate solutions to help
diminish microplastics and their adverse effects in the
long run.

Business
● Manufacturing companies can be tapped to help produce
such instruments.
● Investors or Investing firms will oversee the financial
aspects of the project.

DEADLINE: September 12 (Monday)

—---

Life Below Water

https://iwaponline.com/h2open/article/2/1/92/66961/Occurrence-of-microplastic-fragments-in
-the-Pasig

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332565688_Occurrence_of_microplastic_fragments
_in_the_Pasig_River

https://www.denr.gov.ph/images/DENR_NEWS_ALERTS_2022/DENR_News_Alerts_April_09_20
22_Saturday.pdf

https://seabinproject.com/the-seabin-v5/

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f0119df351f448a18922b4a51fdde539
https://ph.oceana.org/press-releases/ban-of-single-use-plastic-pressed-after-govt-study-confir
ms-presence-of-microplastics-in-philippine-marine-waters/

https://www.worldanimalprotection.org/news/how-plastic-pollution-affecting-seals-and-other-
marine-life?gclid=Cj0KCQjwyOuYBhCGARIsAIdGQROL9mNgz4b1PqlYqsD12XqWufeunRlmytJHkX
Rx-H9tZL1OYm764OIaAhDWEALw_wcB

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2021.719274/full