The Pasig River: Our nation’s lifeline

MANILA, Philippines — In the 1990s, many of us bore witness and have been part of a crusade to save the Pasig River, one of the most important natural legacies of Mother Earth to us situated in the heart of Metro Manila.

During that era, you must have sang the hit song Anak ng Pasig (Child of Pasig) popularized by Geneva Cruz of the group Smokey Mountain and used its famous line Anak ng Pasig naman kayo! in several instances. Years later, you also probably donated a portion of your savings for the national fund-raising movement Piso Para sa Pasig (Peso for the Pasig) which began in 1995. You may have also participated in the marathons for the benefit of the Pasig River which took place in the years after.

Do you remember why we did those? Well, it was actually the decade when our Pasig River was declared biologically dead and reached a state where no living creature can survive its waters.

How did the Pasig River end like that?

Unfortunately, rapid urbanization and industrialization over the previous decades coupled with poor urban planning and failure to enforce environmental laws resulted to the gradual demise of the once pristine and beautiful river.

The Pasig River mirrors our country’s rich and noble history and played a pivotal role in many of the historic events that shaped our people and nation. Like many great civilizations, which started by the river such as Egypt on the Nile, Mesapotamia along the Tigris and Euphrates, China by the Yellow River, among many others, the Pasig River also follows this riverine tradition as it is considered to have given birth to the early civilization of Manila. Accordingly, the early settlers of Manila came to be known as Tagalog because they were taga-ilog or those who live from or by the river.

Over the centuries, the Pasig River and its tributaries proved to be the most important means of transport and became the lifeline of the city as well as the center of economic activity, development, cultural, and religious exchange. Pasig River made Manila famous worldwide as it connected to the western world via the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade, which lasted for 250 years (1565 to 1815). Structures such as bridges, churches, ports, government offices, communities, and edifices were erected by the banks of the Pasig River.

Prior to large-scale development, the Pasig River was compared to the Grand Canal of Venice due to its serpented and clear waterways. However, the turn of the century saw the Pasig River neglected by many and becoming a dumping ground of waste and pollution.

Hence, on January 6, 1999, the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) was created by virtue of Executive Order No. 54, as amended by Executive Order No. 65, as the President’s flagship project for the environment to ensure that the Pasig River is rehabilitated to a condition that can support and sustain aquatic life and resources, and be conducive for transport, recreation, and tourism.

Thankfully, the PRRC led the harmonization of the multi-faceted and comprehensive rehabilitation of the 27-kilometer Pasig River which include quality projects, programs and activities in easement recovery, riverbanks development, waste and water quality management, and public awareness.

After 20 years, PRRC and its partners have already accomplished so much for the once dead Pasig River. Almost 20,000 informal settler families (ISFs) have been resettled to safe and decent houses. More than 41,000 linear meters of environmental preservation areas have been developed in the form of linear parks, walkways, and greenbelts, and the Pasig River Ferry Service was revived in 2007 to enhance east-west connectivity. In addition, 17 of the 47 identified tributaries have already been rehabilitated. More than 30 million kilograms of solid waste have been diverted from the Pasig River and its waterways through daily clean-up since 2012.

Biodiversity in Pasig River has already returned. Now, it has 118 species of trees and vegetation, 39 species of birds, eight species of fish, and several aquatic plants.* PRRC’s multimedia information, education, and communication (IEC) campaigns have transformed communities into environmentally responsible and law-abiding citizens.

These accomplishments have significantly improved the lives of the people in terms of health, environment, peace and order, economy, and tourism based on impact assessment studies and led to the Philippines’ Pasig River being conferred with the inaugural Asia Riverprize award by the International RverFoundation (IRF) and sponsored by the Australian Water Partnership (AWP), on October 16, 2018 in Sydney, Australia during the 21st International Riversymposium (IRS), besting China’s Yangtze River.

Our Ilog Pasig is no longer just a thing of the past. Now, our Pasig River is an award winning river and posts a promising future which will also help the larger ecosystems of the Manila Bay and the Laguna Lake, thanks to the inspiring restoration efforts and impressive accomplishments we have undertaken together over the years.

Winning the first ever Asia Riverprize is very important to all of us because it validates the great things we have done for the Pasig River and inspires us to continue the good fight.

We wish to extend our sincerest gratitude to all our stakeholders since Day 1 and most especially to former First Lady Amelita ‘Ming’ Ramos for teaching us that every Piso Para sa Pasig counts; to former PRRC Chairperson Regina Paz ‘Gina’ Lopez who enlightened us that through Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig (Linking Arms for the Pasig River), the impossible can be possible; and to our very own Executive Director Jose Antonio ‘Pepeton’ Goitia who tells us that the key to the success of the rehabilitation programs is our Puso Para sa Ilog Pasig (Love for the Pasig River).

This is the compelling story of our Pasig River — a river which refuses to die. It will continue to live for as long as we commit to save and protect it. There is a long way to go, but with your continued support, our dream of a clean and alive Pasig River is within reach!

*“Biodiversity Assessment of Pasig River and its Tributaries: Ecosystems Approach 2008-2009” study by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR – ERDB).  — George De La Rama

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George Oliver G. De La Rama is the head of Public Information, Advocacy and Tourism Division of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC). He has been in the government service since 2016 and also acts as PRRC’s spokesperson, and editor-in-chief of the Commission’s publications.