ADB gives $50,000 for Pasig River info campaign

Rizza Sacra

January 26, 2010—The Asian Development Bank (ADB) joins hands with ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. (AFI) and the Manila Water Company in rehabilitating the Pasig River by giving US$ 50,000 grant for the production of multimedia educational materials for various publics. The Information, Education and Communication campaign will support Manila Water’s drive to set up sewerage treatment plants in various parts of Metro Manila.

This campaign seeks to demonstrate community based and multimedia strategies in raising environmental consciousness on the Clean Water Act of 2004 and Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

“ADB's help is very important, because no matter how much money you spend on the river, if you don’t change the way we see it as a toilet or dump site, nothing will happen,” said AFI Managing Director Gina Lopez. “To recognize that we must keep the river clean, there needs to be a shift in consciousness. So ADB is funding our effort at consciousness-raising.”

ADB is interested in innovative ways of educating children and adults by publishing a children’s storybook and household magazine. Both will discuss the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and Clean Water Act of 2004. It will include storytelling sessions along Pasig River and its tributaries and a series of workshops for the community stakeholders.

Another component of the grant is the production of project interstitials and videos that will showcase the state of the Pasig River and how people can be part of the solution in its rehabilitation. The video will also tell the story of the concerted effort of different agencies to revive the Pasig River. AFI will be working with renowned independent film director and Cannes Film Fest awardee Brilliante “Dante” Mendoza, together with in-house directors and talents.

The ADB grant is in support of the Pasig River Sewerage Catchment project of Manila Water.

“Manila Water is a very important part of the private sector which is working in the water sector and our intention in partnering with them is to do the most that we can in terms of addressing the problems struggling facing in the water sector and helping the Filipino people,” explained ADB Private Sector Operations Department Director General Philip Erquiaga.

“With respect to the partnership with ABS-CBN [Foundation], it is our intention to compliment our financial assistance to Manila Water with an effective agency like ABS-CBN that can provide the educational assistance that’s required in terms of making this project a success,” Erquiaga added.