Environmental people power to clean Pasig River in seven years

By: Kane Errol Choa

As the country commemorates the 23rd anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, another people power was launched yesterday – "Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig" – a massive clean-up campaign to rescue the ailing Pasig River led by the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. (AFI) and the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC), under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

AFI Managing Director Regina Paz "Gina" Lopez called the significant event a "genuine display of bayanihan," with public servants and the private sector working together for one noble cause – bringing back life to a river "intimately connected to our history and origin as a people."

To get every Filipino involved, "Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig" is banking on the support of the media to be its lead advocate, in order to bring different sectors together and put the rehabilitation of the river in everyone’s agenda.

"No matter how much money you spend to clean the river, the river’s still going to be dirty. We have to change the way we look at the river. We should use the media to awaken the consciousness and the reverence that people should have for the Pasig River," Lopez said.

Yesterday (Feb 24), eight local government units, the Manila Water Co., Maynilad Water Services Inc., the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and ABS-CBN tendered their full involvement in the campaign.

Mayors Alfredo Lim of Manila, JV Ejercito of San Juan, Mercedes Fernando of Marikina, Jejomar Binay of Makati, Ben Hur Abalos of Mandaluyong, Freddie Tinga of Taguig, Vicente Eusebio of Pasig, Sonny Belmonte of QC represented by Federica Rentoy, Sec. Lito Atienza of DENR, and ABS-CBN Chairman and CEO Eugenio Lopez III joined hands and sealed their commitment in the "Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig" press launch hosted by ABS-CBN news anchor Korina Sanchez at the Makati Park & Garden in Guadalupe, Makati.

Vice President Noli De Castro also sent a video-taped message to offer National Housing Authority’s (NHA) assistance, in his capacity as the chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.

The Department of Science and Technology’s Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) also committed to be the technology partner of KBSIP.

"Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig" is a product of the memorandum of agreement between AFI and DENR, through PRRC, which makes AFI-Bantay Kalikasan and DENR co-managers of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Project. The goal of the group is "zero toxic input into the Pasig River," which includes tributaries, esteros, and creeks which lead to it. KBSIP needs to raise at least P700 million to afford the technology and operational expenses to clean the river in seven years.
The Pasig River is a 24-kilometer body of water, which stretches from Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay. Once a major transport route, source of water, and a vital ecosystem, the river is relegated today as one of the most polluted and toxic river systems in the Philippines. The deterioration of Pasig River was said to start in the 1930s. Six decades later, it was considered biologically inactive.
"Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig" will use a multi-pronged strategy that zeroes in on consciousness-raising as much as physical efforts to improve the condition of the river.

Backed up by ABS-CBN, the largest multimedia conglomerate in the land, KBSIP has lined up a string of activities including a 42K marathon along the Pasig River, a nationwide songwriting competition, and the first-ever "Agos Awards," which will honor individuals, schools, organizations, government offices, and private corporations for their contributions to the rehabilitation of the river.

Meanwhile, KBSIP has also begun Phase 1 of its seven-year program with the relocation of informal settlers around Pasig River. These informal settlers are reportedly responsible for household wastes thrown into the river. According to a PRRC study, the Pasig River is polluted with 60% household waste, 35 % industrial waste, and 5% solid waste.

KBSIP has taken over the Calauan resettlement site, where a community of former settlers along the Pasig River was relocated. The group targets to relocate about 1,100 other informal settlers by June to a relocation site where they are provided with housing, education, health, and livelihood assistance from KBSIP and its partners.

"Other AFI programs like Bayanijuan, Bantay Bata 163, Bantay Kalikasan, Sagip Kapamilya, Bayan Micro-Finance, and E-Media will also take part. Everybody’s working together so the settlers will be happy to transfer to the resettlement sites," Lopez explained.

Meanwhile, Manila Water and Maynilad are also involved in the dredging of the river and clearing of household waste that clog waterways. The long-term plan is to connect all households to sewerage facilities, so domestic waste won’t be coursed to bodies of water like the Pasig River.

One of the innovative remedies to be spearheaded by the DOST-ITDI is the recycling of discarded plastics, which are shredded to make tiles, bricks, and other items using the equipment turned over by the DENR to KBSIP. Factory returnables are brought to a Materials Recovery Facility and organic wastes are converted into methane to power generators to run the shredders.

All their combined efforts will be overseen by the eight local government units based on their respective jurisdictions, or clean-river-zones.

"Just imagine if we succeed in cleaning the Pasig River, this can be a model for all the endangered river systems in the country. We’re sending a signal to everybody else that you need to revere the river because it’s not your toilet bowl, it’s your life," Lopez said.

Lopez is calling out to everybody, from the private sector to the military, the national government, and other non-government organizations to help in transforming the Pasig River into a scenic spot where people can play, engage in water sports, and cultivate acquatic life.

Prior to the launch, the corporate sector has already heeded the call led by bakeshop giant Goldilocks, which donated P 6 million, and Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corp. The builder of the famous "Pinoy Big Brother" house agreed to build 800 houses in the Calauan site, including a sports field where kids can play.

Businessman Francis Manglapus and Jill Aithne Ang of WorldBex Services, International both made a commitment to support the Kapit Bisig Sa Ilog Pasig Campaign, while water purification and water treatment specialist Solerex Water Technologies, Inc. vowed to provide waste water purification facilities in the Calauan and Montalban relocation sites.

Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo, on the other hand, is the KBSIP’s first congressional donor.

"If we can clean the Pasig River, what can’t we do as a people?" Lopez asked in rhetoric.

For inquiries and donations, call the "Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig" secretariat at (02) 416-1911 or (02) 4152272 local 3797. You may also deposit donations to Banco de Oro, Sct. Albano branch account number 393-0078222. Kindly fax the deposit slip to (02) 412-1382 for the official receipt of your donation.