Joint project to clear Pasig River of toxic input

MANILA, Philippines - The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) and the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. will launch today a project to transform the Pasig River into a “zero toxic and clean river zone.”

The PRRC and ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. are forging a partnership to resuscitate the dying Pasig River through “clean river zones,” believing that the best way to address the problem is to stop the discharge of toxic waste into the already polluted river.

Dubbed the “Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig,” the seven-year project would focus on the improvement of the physical appearance of the river and create awareness among residents about the sensitive river system to stop pollution around the waterway.

“I believe that history and the condition of our river systems have a link to our identity as a nation, and dignity of the Filipino people,” said Gina Lopez, managing director of ABS-CBN Foundation.

“I believe that a river, or in this case, the Pasig River, is a picture of a man’s soul, of our soul. So, if a river is not clean, but cluttered and polluted, it has an effect on the psychological well-being of a person, or of a nation,” she also said.

Under the project, proponents would focus on cleaning an initial 10 esteros, which flow towards the four major tributaries in San Juan, Marikina, Taguig-Pateros, and Napindan.

There are 47 major and minor tributaries in the metropolis, for which the Pasig River serves as the catch basin.

Alan Gatpolintan, deputy executive director for operations of the PRRC, said the project would entail a number of schemes under a two-pronged approach to revive the river.

Gatpolintan said the project would not only deal with the cleanup of the Pasig River but also the clearing of squatters and other illegal establishments surrounding the river, particularly the problem of domestic and industrial waste that cause pollution.

He said 12 community-based waste management facilities would be established, including catchments and filtration systems, bioremediation, and relocation of informal settlers.

Government data showed that 65 percent of pollution in the river comes from domestic or household waste, while 30 percent comes from industrial waste. The same data also showed that five percent of the waste that flows into the river is solid waste.

Some 4,040 informal settlers will be relocated from Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Tondo, Manila, Makati-Guadalupe Viejo, Pasig, and Taguig.

Gatpolintan said 500 families would be moved soon as they are located along so-called “critical esteros.” 

“Historically, wala pa talagang naging (there has been no) successful na project reviving any river in the country because the focus before was really just on the improvement of the water quality of the river itself. The issue on the informal settlers, development of easement zones, among others was not really totally tackled, even as they all cause or contribute to the pollution of the river,” Gatpolintan said.

“Now, with our partnership with the private sector, we hope to have a different yet effective approach to finally solve the problem. Our partnership with the private sector is to make sure the project would be sustained. We are all aiming for the sustainability of the project. We want to make sure that previous accomplishments to clean up the Pasig River as well as future accomplishments would not be rendered futile,” he also said.