Pasig River rehab catches public attention
THE showcase area of the Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli (PBBM) project behind the Manila Central Post Office is now getting public attention since its unveiling last Jan. 17.
The 500-meter stretch along the Pasig River has come alive and transformed into a public park after its completion by the Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development (IAC-PRUD), chaired by Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar.
The showcase area now serves as the newest attraction in Manila for people wanting fresh open-air sites.
The transformation is only the initial phase of the PBBM Project, whose goal is to restore the river and transform it into a center for tourism and economic activity, in accordance with the issuance of Presidential Executive Order No. 35 in July 2023.
“Yan po talaga ang vision ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at First Lady Marie Louise Araneta-Marcos para sa Ilog Pasig. Kaya ang ating approach ay gawing people-centered at community-driven ang rehabilitation project,” Acuzar said.
The showcase area, completed through private donations, was unveiled six months after the issuance of the EO 35 which established IAC-PRUD.
The project is divided into nine sections traversing across the cities that intersect the river from Manila to Laguna de Bay. Once completed, pedestrians and bikers can travel through the entire 25-kilometer stretch of the pathway with seamless connectivity.
Eight other showcase areas similar to the one behind the Manila Central Post Office are expected to be completed within a timeline of three-to-five years.
The President admitted he is an “anak ng Pasig” to emphasize his personal connection to the river, while branding the First Lady as the “in-house advocate” of Pasig River.
Since the showcase area was opened to the public following last week’s ceremonies, it has been drawing heavy foot traffic, particularly in the evenings, when the lamp posts and the water fountains come to life.
The ultimate goal of the revitalization project is to realize the full potential of the Pasig River and bring it to the level of Thames River in London, the Chao Phraya in Bangkok and the Seine River in Paris, not only in terms of popularity among tourists, but as a major contributor to commerce and transportation, Acuzar said.
