Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 20) — The sea level in Metro Manila is rising by nearly three times the global yearly average, according to the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA).
Citing National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) figures, NAMRIA said the global sea level is rising at an average of 3.4 millimeters (mm) annually.
In a presentation last Aug. 15, NAMRIA said that from 1901 to 2022, Metro Manila’s sea level rose 8.4mm a year based on historical data from the United States and the agency’s own findings, nearly three times the global average.
Using a different data set obtained from 1947 to 2022, the sea level rise was even higher at 13.2mm annually, NAMRIA Physical Oceanography Division Chief Dennis Bringas said.
However, Bringas presented a third data set, stating that “starting from the urbanization in 1965, nagkaroon ng [there was] heavy urbanization (in Metro Manila) in 1965. Mas mataas pa [it’s even higher].”
From 1965 to 2022, sea level rise in Metro Manila was documented at 14.4mm yearly, four times faster than the global average.
The agency attributed the accelerated sea level rise and land subsidence — the sudden sinking of the earth’s surface — to the following anthropogenic or human-induced activities: groundwater or oil/gas mining, vegetation clearing, deforestation, population growth, urbanization, and land reclamation.
Increased sea level rise could cause frequent flooding, rapid land loss, displaced population, economic problems, and negative impact on ecological systems, NAMRIA added.
Meanwhile, NAMRIA also presented sea level rise trends for cities outside of the nation’s capital:
From 1947 to 2022, Legazpi sea level rose 6.0mm a year.
From 1947 to 2021, Cebu saw a below average increase of 1.2mm annually.
From 1948 to 2022, Davao observed a rise of 3.6mm a year.
