PUGAT ISLAND, Philippines — An island community off the coast of Bulacan is fighting a daily battle against the sea, as rising waters and sinking land threaten the lives of more than 2,500 residents.
Every morning, families scoop floodwater from their homes before children wake or head to school. Roads are rebuilt only to be swallowed again, while houses are constantly elevated with gravel and concrete to stay above the tide.
Scientists say the region is experiencing the fastest land subsidence rate in the Philippines, sinking nearly 11 centimeters per year due to decades of groundwater extraction. Combined with sea-level rise in Manila Bay — three times faster than the global average — the result is devastating.
Floods now reach as high as 1.5 meters, forcing schools to adjust schedules around tide charts to protect children from waterborne diseases. Shopkeepers stack goods on raised platforms, while many families debate whether to stay or relocate to the mainland.
“We can’t leave,” one resident said. “Our livelihood is here in the sea. If we go to Manila, we’ll go hungry.”
The Philippine government says a national adaptation plan won’t be ready until 2028, while local groundwater bans have done little to slow the crisis. Scientists warn that subsidence can be managed, but rising seas are irreversible without drastic global emission cuts.
The Philippines, among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, now waits for stronger action from industrialized countries most responsible for greenhouse gas pollution. For islanders in Pugat, every delay means higher waters — and harder choices.
