MANILA, Philippines?To many people their closest encounter with Pasig River is when they drive over bridges. They hardly think about the river as they rush through the heavy traffic. This indifference clearly shows that people have lost their kinship with the waterway that was once Manila?s most precious jewel. What remains today is the stench of a polluted and dying river.

This deteriorating process did not happen overnight. Over the years, the 27-kilometer river that stretches from Laguna de Bay to the Manila Bay has undergone environmental degradations. It is now considered one of the most polluted rivers in the Philippines.

Its noticeable deterioration started in the 1930s. In the 1950s there was a drop in bathing activities. By the 1960s people no longer used the water for washing their clothes. In the 1970s the river gave off an offensive smell. Fishing was no longer possible in the 1980s. By the 1990s it was considered biologically dead due to so much pollution.

The pollution has been largely attributed to the waste dumped by more than 300 factories and the homes of more than 10,000 families residing along the river?s banks.

Pasig River which traverses four cities (Manila, Mandaluyong, Makati and Pasig) and two municipalities of Rizal (Taguig and Taytay) is a vital ecosystem and an irreplaceable natural resource. Unfortunately, poor planning and nonenforcement of relevant policies have contributed to the sad state of the Pasig River.

Why are rivers important?

Rivers are of immense importance not only to people but to life everywhere, even if river water makes up only about 0.2 percent of all the freshwater on Earth. They are geologically, biologically, historically and culturally important. Rivers embody many values. They signify human health since people use river water for irrigation and for drinking water supplies.

River water is also used to produce electrical energy. Rivers provide travel routes for exploration, commerce and recreation. They are major aquatic landscapes for a variety of animals and plants. They can help keep the aquifers underground full of water. Oceans stay full of water because rivers and runoff continually refresh them.

Past efforts

With such an overwhelming argument in favor of rivers, why can?t we give Pasig River the importance it deserves?

Actually, initiatives have not been short. Previous rehabilitation programs have been successfully done by the government together with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan project which focused on Phase 1 which is the rehabilitation of the main river system consisting of resettlement, transportation and front development activities.

Present efforts

There is much more to be done, however, to ensure sustained management and improvement of Pasig River. This is why a new agency has been formed to lead the development of a strategic plan for Phase 2. The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) will act as the primary coordinator of the project working closely with LGUs and other stakeholders. The World Bank will be helping PRRC in putting together Phase 2 of the rehabilitation efforts on the Pasig River.

Phase 2 of the projects seeks to improve the quality of life of Metro Manila residents through the rehabilitation of the Pasig River. Specifically it seeks to:

? Improve the water quality.

? Increase the awareness level of Manila residents about Pasig River?s value.

? Increase revenues by increasing the capabilities of local government units.

? Ensure sustained management through development based on sound land valuation.

? Improve monitoring and evaluation capabilities of LGUs.

? Improve the management and development guided by a master development plan.

? Improve stakeholder coordination with capacity-building activities.

What other countries are doing

The River Thames in London underwent a similar rehabilitation. It was in 1960 with their determined effort to clean up the river that they successfully managed to clean up Thames River. Today it is one of the cleanest rivers in the world. Proof of this is that salmon now thrives in its waters and salmon is known to seek only the freshest waters.

In the 1970s, it was considered a symbol of progress when the Cheonggyecheon River was covered and an elevated freeway was built above it to accommodate the growing volume of traffic in downtown Seoul, South Korea. By the year 2000, the area became noisy and congested and people wanted to remove the freeway. In response, the city mayor destroyed the freeway and built a Rapid Bus Transit system which cut automobile use by half.

The project to remove the freeway and restore the river was completed in 2005. Today the area is a tremendous source of pride in Seoul and has become a major tourist destination. And the key factor that revitalized the area was the river rehabilitation. The new river became a Central Park-like gathering place with national emphasis on quality of life.

What else can be done for Pasig River?

The problem is complex and the solution is also complex and will involve the participation of many sectors of our society. Communities along the Pasig River are the main targets for action to address the problem of river pollution.

There are other sources of river pollution, though. They can be farms, lawns, roads and parking lots, storms, flooding, etc.

Partnerships with a range of stakeholders who bring different resources and skills may be one answer to the rehabilitation project.

Another move would be to divide the river in different segments of different lengths and each section handed over to a community to form a ?River Watch Group.? These groups can be trained to monitor the river.

Rehabilitating the Pasig River will not only enhance connectivity between the cities and towns and redefine the cityscape. It will also invite investment and improve quality of life through higher quality urban amenities and progressive architecture.

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