Clean, green and a not-so-secret garden

Most believed First Lady Ming Ramos’ interest in the Pasig River was co-terminus with her President. Okay, so the Piso Para sa Pasig fund campaign raked in a whopping P50 million. And the first "Muling Aawit ang Pasig" concert brought in a few more millions. There is no doubt the idea of saving a dying river was nothing less than romantic. However, because it seemed like something cooked up by a politician’s public relations team, no one expected a follow through.

The campaign was in fact tailor made for the unassuming General’s wife. Finding a niche for herself in her husband’s administration was a challenge since she was the first First Lady after Imelda Marcos, the First Lady for close to two decades, whose efforts to highlight Philippine culture were known throughout the world. As long-time mistress of Malacañang Palace, Mrs. Marcos was larger than life. In contrast, Mrs. Ramos was content in her little garden. Thrust into the public domain, she found a cause close to her heart–the environment.

Pasig River’s plight came into focus towards the end of the Aquino administration with a study conducted by the DENR and the Royal Danish Government in 1990-1991. Results pointed only to the fact that the historic river was dying. Its estimated daily pollution load in terms of Bio-Oxygen Demand (BOD) was 327 tons–well above the maximum BOD (200 tons) that can sustain aquatic life. Though staggering, the numbers were not shocking. Anyone with eyes could see the filth floating on the river. Anyone within breathing distance could tell Pasig had little hope.

In 1993, President Fidel V. Ramos launched the Pasig River Rehabilitation Programme (PRRP) whose main task was to revitalize the river in 15 years (1993-2008). A year later, Mrs. Ramos founded the Clean & Green Foundation, Inc. (C&GFI), a non-government, non-profit organization dedicated to the protection, preservation and enhancement of the environment.

Though overshadowed by the Pasig River campaign, it was actually the Orchidarium that was the first tangible project of the C&GFI. What was once the parking lot of the former Department of Finance was transformed into a blooming garden in the middle of bustling Manila.

The group also invested its resources in such endeavors as the Gift of Trees; Eco-boats; Project Bridges; Riverwatch, the volunteer group; the cleanest and greenest barangay contests along Pasig, San Juan and Marikina Riverbanks; "Muling Aawit ang Pasig" concert series; "Kumusta Ka Na, Ilog Pasig?" symposium series and the Pasig River Heritage Marathon.

Obviously, despite such contributions, the C&GFI’s success is dependent on the revival of the Pasig River. As early as mid-December 1997 (a short four years since the campaign began), the quality of the river water showed marked improvement. According to a follow-up study completed in 1997 by the River Rehabilitation Secretariat, pollution in the Pasig River had been reduced by 97 tons per day (TPD) from 327 TPD to 230 TPD beginning 1995. It was also determined that a total of 116,676 cubic meters of garbage was hauled from Pasig River and its tributaries since 1994. By 1997, 1,711 cubic meters of garbage was collected by the MMDA and its partners in inaccessible barangays. Other hindrances to the flow of water–101,236 cubic meters of silt; 25 out of 27 sunken derelicts and 26 of 30 overstaying barges–were likewise removed.

Six years, three Presidents and two more EDSA Revolutions later, the Pasig River was the subject of yet another presscon hosted by the C&GFI. Recently, the Lush Life Garden Bistro in the heart of the Orchidarium was the venue for the launching of the Third Pasig River Heritage Marathon. By the time this magazine reaches your doorstep, close to 2,000 runners will be taking a circuitous route along the banks of the Pasig River through 10 of its 13 bridges.) C&GFI executive director Imelda Sarmiento produces a thick pile of materials documenting the organization’s accomplishments nearing its first decade.

Unfortunately, there has been no current study done to chart the progress of the Pasig River campaign. "The water no longer smells," Ime says nervously laughing at how frivolous her statement may sound. Seriously, she adds: "We should know because we do inspection trips with anyone who cares to listen to us. Before, we used to see dead cats, dead pigs floating on the river. Now, you’ll only see water lilies."

Unavoidably, many assumed that C&GFI would fade away when Mrs. Ramos left Malacañang. "My stock answer has always been, ‘Yes, I will keep on working for the environment,’ as I do not want my efforts to be ningas cogon types," she wrote in an article published in the C&GFI brochure. "That is the main reason why I organized C&GFI in the first place–for me to have a way to continue working for the environment even in a private capacity."

Of course, a lot of things changed when C&GFI’s chairperson went back to civilian life. Ime confesses that the clout of an incumbent First Lady kept them close to the hearts of sponsors and supporters. Since then, revenues from the annual "Muling Aawit ang Pasig" concert staged every April have gone down.

Expectedly, once a new First Lady was in power, the foundation was no longer a pet benefactor. The change was not limited to financial support. Fewer orchid and plant donations were being given to the Orchidarium. Simply said, the C&GFI had to make do with whatever help was available.

"We are spending something like over P2 million a year for the maintenance of this place," Ime points out. "For an NGO like us, that was really tough. So when Mrs. Ramos was about to bow out of being First Lady, we had to rethink the whole project. So we thought of bringing down our ambition by creating a marketing niche for us. We now have pockets of gardens in a garden. The old green house that used to have all our expensive cattleyas is now gone. For one thing, the air here is so polluted, so it’s not very conducive to raising and propagating orchids. The only thing that grows here profusely are the hybrids, the vandas and dendrobiums. There are stories behind all the little gardens. Our gumamela collection is not a plain gumamela collection. It is a collection that was produced for the centennial. We also have the mussaendas that are named after the First Ladies. The Orchidarium staff knows the sequencing of presidents because of the mussaendas from Doña Hilario of Aguinaldo to Ming of FVR.

"We’ve made the Orchidarium and the Butterfly Pavilion an outdoor classroom for environmental studies. Our ambition really is to have a bigger space to have a botanical garden. Look at Singapore. For such a small country, it has a botanical garden occupying 52 hectares. We are so rich in flora and fauna and yet we don’t have a botanical garden to speak of. So, you can say we’re practicing with our humble one-hectare orchidarium. Our peak season for educational tours is July, August, September, October, November. And then around February again but not so much anymore by March. During the low months for school field trips, our revenue comes from the rental of the place for weddings and other occasions. In this way, the Orchidarium has become independent. It is no longer dependent on financing from the Clean and Green Foundation."

Efforts to develop self-sustaining projects were made even before the end of President Ramos’ term. Before 1997 was over, the Piso Para sa Pasig campaign was terminated. The foundation felt that it was time to quit: the ultra successful fundraising campaign surpassed its target of P50 million.

Years after the disappearance of those distinct donation cans, an indignant public often asks the C&GFI about where their peso went. A fraction of the money (P11 million) was spent in purchasing two eco-boats from Italy (the same kind used to clean the shallow waters of the Venetian lagoon) to collect the solid waste of the Pasig River. These were recently handed over to the government. The boats, in use every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, are positioned in the two choke points of the river: San Juan towards Manila and upstream, in the floodway of Manggahan.

The remaining P40 million has been placed in two trust fund accounts. The campaign has shifted to advocacy and awareness. Thus, the peso you donated to the Pasig River goes to keeping the dream of saving the river alive. The tag line "Pasig River, ALIVE!" announces C&GFI’s countdown to 2008, the year by which its efforts of reviving the Pasig was meant to reach its completion.

"I have to point out that we are really not cleaning the Pasig ourselves. We have to make sure the government will continue doing the rehabilitation program. If you have one administration that was once the contra-partido of the past administration, mahirap ipagpatuloy ang mga proyekto ng gobyerno. When the Ramoses bowed out, in order to ensure that the succeeding administration attends to the Pasig River, we came up with a Pasig River Covenant. Sinong hindi pipirma nun e ang tunog-tunog ng programa namin nun?," Ime shares the rationale behind C&GFI’s clever plan.

The Pasig River Covenant was first presented to the national electoral candidates of 1998. Signees were presidential, vice-presidential and senatorial candidates. It was a formal pledge to support the Pasig River restoration campaign once they assumed office. In the end, all parties got what they wanted. Candidates got their media coverage and the C&GFI got a written guarantee their work would not go to waste.

The tactic worked. When President Estrada assumed office, he formed the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission to be co-chaired by the Budget Secretary and the MMDA chairperson, with 12 government agencies and three private sector groups under a Project Management Office.

After EDSA 2, through Executive Order 72, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (since she too signed the covenant in 1998) facilitated the transfer of the prrc from the Office of the President to the MMDA.

"The C&GFI sits as one of the members of the commission. I always describe it as an orchestra with different players. The conductor changes once the administration changes but at least we are all reading from the same musical piece," says Imelda.

Every year leading to 2008 is marked by three regular events staged by C&GFI for public awareness and advocacy. The Pasig River Heritage Marathon is held every last Sunday of February. Pending formal accreditation by the Association of International Marathons and Road Races, the event will be renamed the Marathon Manila next year. The new name will carry the prestige of a national marathon. Every April, "Muling Aawit ang Ilog Pasig" concert series is staged. Then, starting this year, the "Kamusta Ka na Ilog Pasig" symposium will be held in October (it was formerly set in March).

In addition, there is the Gift of Trees campaign in Corregidor. Every P5,000 donation pays for the planting and maintenance of a new tree in the historic island. A tree certificate is presented to the donor in the name of a person he/she wishes to honor. Thanks to Senator Franklin Drilon, Corregidor has a 12-seat Senate plot. Since June, the Senator has gifted his legislative colleagues with a tree on their birthday. "The trees we plant depend on the location. But we plant Philippine hard wood. We are not just doing reforestation. We are doing rain reforestation. Meaning to say, we really plant endemic and the indigenous trees found in that area," says Ime who can go on and on about what trees are perfect for what locale.

Extensive knowledge about the environment does not go to waste. The people behind C&GFI are dedicated to spreading the word. This is why the Orchidarium and Butterfly Pavilion has been transformed into an outdoor classroom where school kids learn about the life cycle of the butterfly; what exotic plants and flowers thrive in the Philippines and how to care for our natural resources. Aside from being a favorite field trip site, the Orchidarium and Butterfly Pavilion is also the venue for such training programs as Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) and Project Learning Tree. Using fun activities like games, exhibits, skits, art work, experiments, presentation and other creative means, teachers are equipped to mold their students into environmentally-conscious citizens.

The C&GFI is not only the government’s watchdog. It also keeps an eye on the private sector’s contribution in preserving the environment. The annual Cleanest and Greenest Barangay Award encourages efforts by constituents living in the riverbanks of the Pasig River to establish appropriate waste management systemas well as a sustainable greening program.

With 2008 just around the corner, the group spearheading Pasig River’s restoration is showing no signs of fatigue. Its next project is another Herculean endeavor. To foster green consumerism and promote environmental-friendly businesses, C&GFI recently partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Product Standards and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’Environmental Management Bureau to establish the Ecolabelling Program of the Philippines based on the ISO 14024 standard.

To be launched next month, the Green Choice Philippines seal will be stamped on products which have passed the criteria created by a multi-sectoral board whose aim is to encourage the manufacture of environmentally-safe goods. So far, only two product categories already have working criteria: Synthetic laundry detergent and tissue paper (bathroom, facial and table napkins). Next product category in the works is household batteries and plastic packaging.

But, let’s face it, eco-labeling takes more than just stamping a seal on a product. Filipino consumers must accept the principles of environmental conservation. A decade ago, Time Magazine announced that the Earth’s ecological carrying capacity had exceeded 33 per cent. That means there won’t be enough natural resources to go around. C&GFI knows our only hope of survival is going back to basics and resisting the culture of instant gratification.

The decision is not a popular one. Up to now, despite all their efforts, the group is the subject of much criticism. "We have resigned ourselves to the possibility that a lot of people think of us as a crazy bunch of individuals trying to win a lost cause," Ime confessed during the First River Symposium in 2000. "Frankly speaking, they could have been right–had it not been for the small positive signs that tells us that the Pasig River is indeed responding to that gesture of concern extended by government and the private sector–well, mostly government, really.

"If the Pasig could speak, tears and benedictions for her sad plight would never be enough to make up for the countless times we have abused her generosity? Today, we weep to hear the adage that says great cities spring from great rivers–and we continue–if indeed, the Pasig River is dead, how then should we size up Metro Manila? Leaderships will come and go, but the river remains–and the vision of a river teeming with life and activity will always remain."