MANILA, Philippines — An inter-agency body has been formed by President Marcos to accelerate the rehabilitation and enhancement of banks along the Pasig River, a vital waterway and a prominent landmark and tourist attraction in the country, Malacañang said yesterday.
The Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development was created under Executive Order 35, issued and signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on July 25.
The council, which will be chaired by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, will be responsible for facilitating and ensuring the full rehabilitation of the banks along the Pasig River water system and nearby water systems.
According to the EO, the Pasig River holds “immense historical and cultural significance as a vital waterway, which facilitates trade, transportation, and communication, and serves as a prominent landmark and tourist attraction.”
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will serve as the council’s vice chair while the following agencies will serve as its members: Departments of Public Works and Highways; Environment and Natural Resources; Interior and Local Government; Tourism; Transportation; Finance, and Budget and Management, as well as the Historical Commission of the Philippines, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine Coast Guard, Laguna Lake Development Authority, and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.
Aside from facilitating and ensuring the full rehabilitation of Pasig River, the council is also tasked to formulate a Pasig River Urban Development Plan and implement a coordinated and integrated rehabilitation of the Pasig Riverbanks system and nearby water systems, EO 35 said.
In November 2019, Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, issued EO 93, abolishing the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission.
Under EO 93, Duterte stressed the need to “consolidate ongoing rehabilitation efforts in all river systems and tributaries within the Manila Bay Region and streamline rehabilitation functions by transferring them to agencies with relevant core mandates.”