2008-12-04 14:09:28 - Manila. Over extraction of water causing severe subsidence and could lead to Manila copying Venice

Metro Manila is sinking, and it may be a tragic version of Venice, the famous Italian city famous for its waterways, if the trend of over-extraction of groundwater continues, a geologist from the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines in Diliman has warned.

What's more, the drying up of aquifers as a result of over-extraction and the consequent

sinking or 'subsidence'' of the land is also happening in Bulacan, Pampanga and other places where there is rapid urban development and uncontrolled migration of people, according to the expert, Dr. Fernando Siringan.

'Originally, the Italians never planned to make Venice a city permanently submerged in seawater. It was built above water, on the valley of Italy. But because the Venetians were so much dependent on groundwater, the subsidence was tremendous; the place later became submerged in water. But the Venetians adapted very well, and so they did not destroy the structures of Venice,' Dr. Siringan said.

The geology professor warned that if subsidence in Metro Manila continued, the government will spend billions of pesos to cope with consequent problems like water shortages, flash floods, short supply of fish and other marine products, and even infrastructure damage.

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