I will also explain whether environmental racism has played a role in the pollution levels of these two cities. Meycauayan is the oldest city in Bulcan Province and the entire Philippines, with a population of 199,154 residents. The city is surrounded by Marilao City to the north and Caloocan to the south. In the providence of Bulcan there is also the municipality of Marilao with a population of 204,356 inhabitants. According to the Blacksmith Institute “Meycauayan and Marilao are the two dirtiest places on earth” (Block et al., 2007). The two cities share a common river system, which provided a source of income from fishing. Now the Marilao river system contains toxic chemicals such as lead, chromium, copper and arsenic, making the water very dangerous. The chemicals found in the river system come from different sources "However, it receives pollution from various domestic and industrial sources such as gold refineries, jewelery manufacturing, tanneries, electroplating using lead, pyrotechnics, garments and textiles, piglets, livestock and poultry, and other production establishments” (Orejas & Reyes, 2008). There are around two thousand commercial activities in the vicinity of the river; most of them contribute to the cause of the rivers