MANILA (AFP) - - The Philippine government Thursday announced plans to clean up the Meycauayan river, described as one of the most polluted places on the planet.

The river, which runs through areas that host the country's jewelery and leather industries, feeds into commercial fish farms downstream that supply most of Manila's freshwater fish.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Joselito Atienza said the government will work with the private sector and international donors to clean the river up of heavy metals and organic pollution.

Atienza said in a statement the government will name a board to prepare an "action plan" to clean up the river but gave no further details.

A study funded by the Asian Development Bank recently found that goldsmiths upstream dump toxic heavy metals into the Meycauayan while leather tanners also pollute it.

The ADB report said that water quality in areas where fish and shellfish were harvested failed to meet environmental standards.

"The country's position as a major international player, being the fourth largest producer of aquaculture products in the world and the largest in Southeast Asia, may not be sustained," it warned.

The ADB is funding a 10-month, 50,000-dollar pilot programme to survey the extent of the river's pollution and raise local awareness of the dangers of contaminating the food chain.

The study will also test cheaper local methods of reducing and possibly clearing up the heavy metal pollution.

The Blacksmith Institute, which specialises in identifying the most polluted places in the developing world, will undertake the study.

The institute estimates that 20 percent of deaths in the developing world are due to pollution.

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