Sustainable Development of the Laguna de Bay Environment

Period:	03/2000-07/2002
Location:	Manilla, Phillipines
Client:	Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA)

assignment/short description

The Laguna de Bay, located at the southern edge of Metro Manilla (Phillipines), is one of the largest lakes in Southeast Asia. Over the last decades, population expansion, urbanisation, industrialisation, deforestation and land conversion have led to massive changes in the Laguna de Bay catchment and the lake itself., threathening its water quality and ecology. Illegal garbage dumping seems common practice and households, industry and agricutlature contribute high amounts of oranic matter, bacteria, nutrients and toxics that enter the system untreated. Other recent changes include rapid siltation in the lake, flooding problems, the occurence of eutrophication phenomena, significant loss of biodiversity , intense fisheries harvesting, and secondary impacts on public health, standard of living, and recreational attractiveness. To address these concerns, strategic intervention was initiated through the 'Sustainable Development of the Laguna de Bay Environment' project. The objective was to support the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) in ensuring future sustainable development of the Laguna de Bay resources, based upon a sound knowledge of the functioning of the system, its users and the institutional setting. The project was therefore especially directed at capacity building and developing practical and realistic solutions for current problems and issues regarding the lake. Special focus was on drinking water supply, dredging requirements and infrastructure works.

The project was carried out by an international consortium comprising Deltares (Delft Hydraulics) as leading partner, Royal Haskoning, NITG-TNO, Van 't Hoff Consultancy and Mr Ronald Waterman, in cooperation with a number of Philippine institutions and authorities.