Antibiotic Resistance in the Watersheds of the Philippines

This essay explores the growing issue of antibiotic resistance in the watersheds of the Philippines, where resistant bacteria spread through rivers, lakes, and irrigation systems. Studies in Metro Manila, Laguna, Pampanga, and Agusan reveal how antibiotic residues from hospitals, households, and poultry farms enter aquatic ecosystems, endangering public health and food safety. Despite ongoing “One Health” interventions, gaps in awareness, regulation, and wastewater management persist. Urgent action is needed to prevent waterways from becoming transmission routes for drug-resistant infections.