Pasig River - Compiled Threads [Archive] - Page 7

[dx]

November 21st, 2008, 06:10 AM

^Here are some photos of the Pasig River and environs from Life Magazine's Photo Archive (http://images.google.com/hosted/life) made available via Google Image Search

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/1724/37967064sl9.jpg
A view of Pasig RIver an downtown Manila on week before the outbreak of war with Japan.
Location: Manila, Philippines
Date taken: 1942
Photographer: Carl Mydans

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/8882/15eo8.jpg
American amphibious vehicle firing on Japanese postions along the Pasig River during the battle for Manila.
Location: Manila, Philippines
Date taken: 1945

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/7544/13zy9.jpg
A view of people floating on rafts along the Pasig River.
Location: Manila, Philippines
Date taken: 1942
Photographer: Carl Mydans

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/723/12gk0.jpg
A view of a ship floating along the Pasig River.
Location: Manila, Philippines
Date taken: 1942
Photographer: Carl Mydans

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8422/11ps8.jpg
A view of the Quezon bridge which extends over the Pasig River.
Location: Manila, Philippines
Date taken: 1942
Photographer: Carl Mydans

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3793/10ac5.jpg
A view of a ship being loaded near the Quezon Bridge on the Pasig River.
Location: Manila, Philippines
Date taken: 1942
Photographer: Carl Mydans

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/9959/22088894lj6.jpg
A view of Pasig River and the Bureau of Posts in Manila.
Location: Manila, Philippines
Date taken: 1942
Photographer: Carl Mydans

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/5010/59239025vj1.jpg
A view of the Quezon bridge which extends over the Pasig River.
Location: Manila, Philippines
Date taken: 1942
Photographer: Carl Mydans

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/7320/31817004kb9.jpg
A view of the Quezon bridge which extends over the Pasig River.
Location: Manila, Philippines
Date taken: 1942
Photographer: Carl Mydans

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/2483/26451838pm5.jpg
A view of people floating on rafts along the Pasig River.
Location: Manila, Philippines
Date taken: 1942
Photographer: Carl Mydans

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/1699/33588705yl9.jpg
A view of the Quezon bridge which extends over the Pasig River.
Location: Manila, Philippines
Date taken: 1942
Photographer: Carl Mydans

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/2893/36086572ii2.jpg
A view of the Santa Cruz bridge which extends over the Pasig River.
Location: Manila, Philippines
Date taken: 1942
Photographer: Carl Mydans

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/3599/18953413xn1.jpg
A view of a ship being loaded near the Quezon Bridge on the Pasig River.
Location: Manila, Philippines
Date taken: 1942
Photographer: Carl Mydans

le Reine

November 21st, 2008, 06:13 AM

^^:cry: The Jones, McArthur and Ayala bridges were still very beautiful back then. Sayang...

kiretoce

November 21st, 2008, 06:23 AM

So much emphasis is placed in the river itself, but do we have any photos of the river's banks as well?

venntro

November 21st, 2008, 10:48 AM

;28325848']^Here are some photos of the Pasig River and environs from Life Magazine's Photo Archive (http://images.google.com/hosted/life) made available via Google Image Search

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8422/11ps8.jpg
A view of the Quezon bridge which extends over the Pasig River.
Location: Manila, Philippines
Date taken: 1942
Photographer: Carl Mydans

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/7320/31817004kb9.jpg
A view of the Quezon bridge which extends over the Pasig River.
Location: Manila, Philippines
Date taken: 1942
Photographer: Carl Mydans

^^ These pictures suggest that once upon a time, Filipinos are using the left side of the road. If they are using the left side of the road, are the vehicles right handed? I don't recall seeing a picture of a right hand drive vehicle in pre-war Manila. Now, we are using the right side of the road with left hand drive vehicles.

makoy731

December 4th, 2008, 09:22 AM

any updates on the ferry system?

flymordecai

December 4th, 2008, 07:17 PM

^^ Maybe that was a remnant of the Japanese occupation?

IndioBravo

December 5th, 2008, 12:34 AM

^^No,even when the americans came,we used the left side of the road...Beautiful pics of Pasig,definitely Pasig was cleaner and people still cared for it.

nazi_najih22

December 5th, 2008, 05:04 PM

It is indeed a very good news. The riverbanks station (this would also mean the operations of the 2nd line of the pasig ferry service) of the pasig ferry will open on december 08. I have passed by the station early this morning and a streamer announcing for its opening is already in-place. There were also people, I think they were inspecting the station as well as giving instructions/orientation to the guards to be posted there.

I hope we patronize the ferry service...I will! :banana::banana::banana:

barrera_marquez

December 5th, 2008, 10:49 PM

nazi_najih22

December 6th, 2008, 04:39 AM

sana...and I will definitely be one of its first passengers. :)

oboi

December 6th, 2008, 06:30 PM

I want to ride the entire stretch this Monday.

Was able to ride the ferry on its first day of commercial operation from Escolta to Guadalupe.

Hopefully, Monday is the day! Keeping my fingers crossed. :)

Waldenstrom

December 7th, 2008, 04:38 AM

taken from Palafox: www.palafoxoutsourcing.com/

http://www.palafoxoutsourcing.com/main/images/stories/gallery/urbanplanning/Pasig-River.jpg

The Vision

The rehabilitation will effect a paradigm shift from back-of-the-house to front-door of development, creating a vibrant river corridor that is walkable and that links the different areas of the city.

By 2015, a revitalized Pasig River will be the showcase of multi-sectoral synergy and model for sensitive developments conducive to living, working, and studying, abundant with parks and greenery, host to a range of activities and exemplary architecture

The Pasig River Redevelopment

DESCRIPTION:
To redevelop Pasig River waterways and riverbanks in order to increase tourism, alleviate traffic, cap toxic substances that pollute the once fabled and revered river in history and literary books, revitalize its waters so as to make the river fit for bathing, fish catching, and as a transport system.

PROJECT COMPONENTS:
One focus site of the redevelopment is the Makati-Mandaluyong area spanning from the Guadalupe Bridge to Makati-Mandaluyong Bridge. Another is the area in Intramuros known as the Muelle del Rio.

-----------------------------------------
sorry if this has already been posted before. :)

nazi_najih22

December 7th, 2008, 10:47 AM

Guys, sorry... I didn't have the chance to have the picture as the streamer was already removed. :ohno:

The announced opening by tomorrow will not push through. There are already guards on post at the station and when I asked for the schedule of the trips, they mentioned of the postponement but no definite date yet. Sumayad daw ang ferry sa may Manggahan Floodway during the dryrun conducted last Friday which had the Marikina City Hall employees as its passengers. A dredging of that portion of the river was already requested and the new opening date would be known, hopefully, on Tuesday.

reggiedoc

December 10th, 2008, 10:20 PM

Manila plans to set up museum of Islamic culture (http://www.gulfnews.com/world/Philippines/10265954.html)
By Gilbert Felongco, Correspondent
Published: December 09, 2008, 23:39

Manila: A museum that will showcase the capital's rich Islamic heritage is being planned inside the ancient walled city of Intramuros.

Senator Richard Gordon disclosed the development during the recent reopening ceremony of Intramuros as the Philippines' "History Town".

"This is our sincerest effort to raise public awareness and promote greater understanding of the important cultural and historical contributions of the Islamic faith to the people of the Philippines," Gordon, former secretary of the tourism department said in a speech.

Features

Intramuros, according to historians, loosely translates to "among the Moors," as the Spanish colonists would refer to Muslims.

The site at the banks of the Pasig River where the more than 400 year-old Spanish fort complex and walled city now stands, had formerly been a Muslim settlement.

Gordon said putting up a museum at the site would not only highlight Manila's rich Spanish heritage, but similarly underscore the role of Muslims in Philippine history.

"We are certain that most would agree that the building of this museum will also accomplish much in the way of promoting a greater manifestation of peace and harmony between Muslims and Christians in the Philippines," he added.

Gordon said he has asked the support of ambassadors from Islamic countries to help in raising funds needed for building the museum, to be called as the Museum of Islamic Culture.

Apart from this, Gordon said he has filed the "Ninth Ray" Bill, which proposes that the rays of the sun on the Philippine flag be increased from eight to nine, to symbolise the community of Muslim leaders who defended the country. He explained that Muslim heroes left an imprint on national history that must be given due recognition in Philippine flag.

In 2003, Gordon also fought for the installation of a statue of the hero Lapu-Lapu in Manila's central Rizal Park. This, he explained, was motivated by the intent to honour and recognise the contributions of Muslims and Visayans in shaping Filipino history.

Gordon pointed out that while a census conducted in 2000 placed the number of Muslims in the Philippines at 3.9 million, Islam arrived in the Philippines more than 200 years before the Spanish and their contributions to Filipino culture are greatly significant.

Spirit

"Our Muslim brothers in Mindanao and elsewhere have never been conquered. From Lapu-Lapu to Rajah Sulayman and the other Filipino Muslim heroes that fought to remain free, all have demonstrated our people's great courage and indomitable spirit. We should do all we can to remember that every Filipino borrows greatly from his proud Muslim heritage," he said.

The senator pointed out that the building of the Museum of Islamic Culture in Intramuros would be historically appropriate.

"Our proposal to establish the Museum of Islamic Culture is an effort to bring Islam back to the core of Philippine consciousness and in so doing propagate better appreciation for the faith," Gordon said.

The site at the banks of the Pasig River where the more than 400 year-old Spanish fort complex and walled city now stands, had formerly been a Muslim settlement.

reggiedoc

December 10th, 2008, 10:26 PM

Lim joins Lopez in keeping Pasig river clean
December 7, 2008 9:44 pm by PNA

MANILA, Dec. 6 — Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim recently called on the public to emulate efforts by certain private groups to clean up the Pasig River.

This, as he lauded the group of Gina Lopez, managing director of the ABS-CBN Foundation and its environmental arm Bantay Kalikasan, for going out of its way by seeking the participation of the city government in its goal of saving the historic river.

Lim directed department head of the Department of Public Services, Ret. Col. Carlos Baltazar, to extend whatever assistance it can to help the group of Lopez in its advocacy and in achieving its goal of beautifying the river.

The mayor expressed belief that once fully rehabilitated, the beauty that Pasig River offers will help boost tourism in the country.“I am confident that the crusade to restore the old glory of Pasig River will become successful under the leadership of Ms. Gina Lopez,” Lim said.

In her meeting with concerned department heads, Lopez, for her part, stressed that the key to the success in bringing Pasig River back to life is total support from the authorities, for which reason she expressed profuse thanks to Lim.

Meanwhile, Col. Baltazar assured the advocacy group that his office will provide all the needed manpower for the clean-up activities aimed at ridding the river of garbage.

During the said meeting, mayor Lim also agreed to step up the city’s ongoing information dissemination on waste management system, to which Lopez pledged support through their media outfits.

Lim also directed Baltazar to monitor what the city’s barangays are doing to effectively implement proper waste management. (PNA)

makoy731

December 11th, 2008, 08:18 AM

flymordecai

December 13th, 2008, 09:45 PM

^^ Yes, there would be less cleaning up to do once they actually stop crap from going into the Pasig River. :D

nayki

December 15th, 2008, 12:46 AM

Sa totoo lang iyong mga dumi na asa pasig river napa kunti lang dyan ang galing ng Maynila. Majority ng pollutants dyan galing sa San Juan River na dumadaloy from QC-San Juan-Mandaluyong. :ohno:

richard24

December 16th, 2008, 11:07 AM

^^ yah. subrang dumi talaga ng san juan river. meron ng nakalutang na ano ng MMDA dun. may ginagawa na sila. kaso baka 10000000000 years pa sila matatapos sa sobrang dumi dun.

johnmizer

December 16th, 2008, 02:58 PM

tama! sa kalentong! ang ITIM, ANG BAHO, buti walng ferry dun... nakakapagtaka nga, bakit hinde umaabot sa may route ng ferry yung stench at grime dun

Maxxclip

December 20th, 2008, 03:45 AM

On September 13, 2002, the RTC rendered a Decision[5] in favor of respondents. The dispositive portion reads:

WHEREFORE, finding merit in the complaint, judgment is hereby rendered ordering the abovenamed defendant-government agencies, jointly and solidarily, to clean up and rehabilitate Manila Bay and restore its waters to SB classification to make it fit for swimming, skin-diving and other forms of contact recreation. To attain this, defendant-agencies, with defendant DENR as the lead agency, are directed, within six (6) months from receipt hereof, to act and perform their respective duties by devising a consolidated, coordinated and concerted scheme of action for the rehabilitation and restoration of the bay.

In particular:

Defendant MWSS is directed to install, operate and maintain adequate [sewerage] treatment facilities in strategic places under its jurisdiction and increase their capacities.

Defendant LWUA, to see to it that the water districts under its wings, provide, construct and operate sewage facilities for the proper disposal of waste.

Defendant DENR, which is the lead agency in cleaning up Manila Bay, to install, operate and maintain waste facilities to rid the bay of toxic and hazardous substances.

Defendant PPA, to prevent and also to treat the discharge not only of ship-generated wastes but also of other solid and liquid wastes from docking vessels that contribute to the pollution of the bay.

Defendant MMDA, to establish, operate and maintain an adequate and appropriate sanitary landfill and/or adequate solid waste and liquid disposal as well as other alternative garbage disposal system such as re-use or recycling of wastes.

Defendant DA, through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, to revitalize the marine life in Manila Bay and restock its waters with indigenous fish and other aquatic animals.

Defendant DBM, to provide and set aside an adequate budget solely for the purpose of cleaning up and rehabilitation of Manila Bay.

Defendant DPWH, to remove and demolish structures and other nuisances that obstruct the free flow of waters to the bay. These nuisances discharge solid and liquid wastes which eventually end up in Manila Bay. As the construction and engineering arm of the government, DPWH is ordered to actively participate in removing debris, such as carcass of sunken vessels, and other non-biodegradable garbage in the bay.

Defendant DOH, to closely supervise and monitor the operations of septic and sludge companies and require them to have proper facilities for the treatment and disposal of fecal sludge and sewage coming from septic tanks.

Defendant DECS, to inculcate in the minds and hearts of the people through education the importance of preserving and protecting the environment.

Defendant Philippine Coast Guard and the PNP Maritime Group, to protect at all costs the Manila Bay from all forms of illegal fishing.

No pronouncement as to damages and costs.

SO ORDERED.

Maxxclip

December 20th, 2008, 03:47 AM

WHEREFORE, the petition is DENIED. The September 28, 2005 Decision of the CA in CA-G.R. CV No. 76528 and SP No. 74944 and the September 13, 2002 Decision of the RTC in Civil Case No. 1851-99 are AFFIRMED but with MODIFICATIONS in view of subsequent developments or supervening events in the case. The fallo of the RTC Decision shall now read:

WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered ordering the abovenamed defendant-government agencies to clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay, and restore and maintain its waters to SB level (Class B sea waters per Water Classification Tables under DENR Administrative Order No. 34 [1990]) to make them fit for swimming, skin-diving, and other forms of contact recreation.

In particular:

(1) Pursuant to Sec. 4 of EO 192, assigning the DENR as the primary agency responsible for the conservation, management, development, and proper use of the country’s environment and natural resources, and Sec. 19 of RA 9275, designating the DENR as the primary government agency responsible for its enforcement and implementation, the DENR is directed to fully implement its Operational Plan for the Manila Bay Coastal Strategy for the rehabilitation, restoration, and conservation of the Manila Bay at the earliest possible time. It is ordered to call regular coordination meetings with concerned government departments and agencies to ensure the successful implementation of the aforesaid plan of action in accordance with its indicated completion schedules.

(2) Pursuant to Title XII (Local Government) of the Administrative Code of 1987 and Sec. 25 of the Local Government Code of 1991,[42] the DILG, in exercising the President’s power of general supervision and its duty to promulgate guidelines in establishing waste management programs under Sec. 43 of the Philippine Environment Code (PD 1152), shall direct all LGUs in Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan to inspect all factories, commercial establishments, and private homes along the banks of the major river systems in their respective areas of jurisdiction, such as but not limited to the Pasig-Marikina-San Juan Rivers, the NCR (Parañaque-Zapote, Las Piñas) Rivers, the Navotas-Malabon-Tullahan-Tenejeros Rivers, the Meycauayan-Marilao-Obando (Bulacan) Rivers, the Talisay (Bataan) River, the Imus (Cavite) River, the Laguna De Bay, and other minor rivers and waterways that eventually discharge water into the Manila Bay; and the lands abutting the bay, to determine whether they have wastewater treatment facilities or hygienic septic tanks as prescribed by existing laws, ordinances, and rules and regulations. If none be found, these LGUs shall be ordered to require non-complying establishments and homes to set up said facilities or septic tanks within a reasonable time to prevent industrial wastes, sewage water, and human wastes from flowing into these rivers, waterways, esteros, and the Manila Bay, under pain of closure or imposition of fines and other sanctions.

(3) As mandated by Sec. 8 of RA 9275,[43] the MWSS is directed to provide, install, operate, and maintain the necessary adequate waste water treatment facilities in Metro Manila, Rizal, and Cavite where needed at the earliest possible time.

(4) Pursuant to RA 9275,[44] the LWUA, through the local water districts and in coordination with the DENR, is ordered to provide, install, operate, and maintain sewerage and sanitation facilities and the efficient and safe collection, treatment, and disposal of sewage in the provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan where needed at the earliest possible time.

(5) Pursuant to Sec. 65 of RA 8550,[45] the DA, through the BFAR, is ordered to improve and restore the marine life of the Manila Bay. It is also directed to assist the LGUs in Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Bataan in developing, using recognized methods, the fisheries and aquatic resources in the Manila Bay.

(6) The PCG, pursuant to Secs. 4 and 6 of PD 979, and the PNP Maritime Group, in accordance with Sec. 124 of RA 8550, in coordination with each other, shall apprehend violators of PD 979, RA 8550, and other existing laws and regulations designed to prevent marine pollution in the Manila Bay.

(7) Pursuant to Secs. 2 and 6-c of EO 513[46] and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, the PPA is ordered to immediately adopt such measures to prevent the discharge and dumping of solid and liquid wastes and other ship-generated wastes into the Manila Bay waters from vessels docked at ports and apprehend the violators.

(8) The MMDA, as the lead agency and implementor of programs and projects for flood control projects and drainage services in Metro Manila, in coordination with the DPWH, DILG, affected LGUs, PNP Maritime Group, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), and other agencies, shall dismantle and remove all structures, constructions, and other encroachments established or built in violation of RA 7279, and other applicable laws along the Pasig-Marikina-San Juan Rivers, the NCR (Parañaque-Zapote, Las Piñas) Rivers, the Navotas-Malabon-Tullahan-Tenejeros Rivers, and connecting waterways and esteros in Metro Manila. The DPWH, as the principal implementor of programs and projects for flood control services in the rest of the country more particularly in Bulacan, Bataan, Pampanga, Cavite, and Laguna, in coordination with the DILG, affected LGUs, PNP Maritime Group, HUDCC, and other concerned government agencies, shall remove and demolish all structures, constructions, and other encroachments built in breach of RA 7279 and other applicable laws along the Meycauayan-Marilao-Obando (Bulacan) Rivers, the Talisay (Bataan) River, the Imus (Cavite) River, the Laguna De Bay, and other rivers, connecting waterways, and esteros that discharge wastewater into the Manila Bay.

In addition, the MMDA is ordered to establish, operate, and maintain a sanitary landfill, as prescribed by RA 9003, within a period of one (1) year from finality of this Decision. On matters within its territorial jurisdiction and in connection with the discharge of its duties on the maintenance of sanitary landfills and like undertakings, it is also ordered to cause the apprehension and filing of the appropriate criminal cases against violators of the respective penal provisions of RA 9003,[47] Sec. 27 of RA 9275 (the Clean Water Act), and other existing laws on pollution.

(9) The DOH shall, as directed by Art. 76 of PD 1067 and Sec. 8 of RA 9275, within one (1) year from finality of this Decision, determine if all licensed septic and sludge companies have the proper facilities for the treatment and disposal of fecal sludge and sewage coming from septic tanks. The DOH shall give the companies, if found to be non-complying, a reasonable time within which to set up the necessary facilities under pain of cancellation of its environmental sanitation clearance.

(10) Pursuant to Sec. 53 of PD 1152,[48] Sec. 118 of RA 8550, and Sec. 56 of RA 9003,[49] the DepEd shall integrate lessons on pollution prevention, waste management, environmental protection, and like subjects in the school curricula of all levels to inculcate in the minds and hearts of students and, through them, their parents and friends, the importance of their duty toward achieving and maintaining a balanced and healthful ecosystem in the Manila Bay and the entire Philippine archipelago.

(11) The DBM shall consider incorporating an adequate budget in the General Appropriations Act of 2010 and succeeding years to cover the expenses relating to the cleanup, restoration, and preservation of the water quality of the Manila Bay, in line with the country’s development objective to attain economic growth in a manner consistent with the protection, preservation, and revival of our marine waters.

(12) The heads of petitioners-agencies MMDA, DENR, DepEd, DOH, DA, DPWH, DBM, PCG, PNP Maritime Group, DILG, and also of MWSS, LWUA, and PPA, in line with the principle of “continuing mandamus,” shall, from finality of this Decision, each submit to the Court a quarterly progressive report of the activities undertaken in accordance with this Decision.

No costs.

SO ORDERED.

Maxxclip

December 20th, 2008, 03:50 AM

sa wakas.... may matinong naging desisyon ang SC bago magtapos ang taon

reggiedoc

December 20th, 2008, 09:52 AM

Atienza welcomes SC decision on Manila Bay clean up :banana:
December 20, 2008 12:46 AM by PNA
MANILA, Dec. 19 — Secretary Jose "Lito" Atienza of the Department Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) today welcomed the Supreme Court (SC) decision requiring many government agencies, including the DENR, to speed up the cleanup, restoration, and preservation of the Manila Bay.

Atienza said: “The ruling of the High Court on Manila Bay strengthens my advocacy on river clean up and rehabilitation.”

A couple of months ago, Atienza congratulated the SC complainants for their tireless advocacy for Manila Bay.

In a unanimous decision written by Justice Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr., the SC emphasized the “extreme necessity for all concerned executive departments and agencies to immediately act and discharge their respective official duties and obligations.”

The SC specifically directed the DENR to fully implement its Operational Plan for the Manila Bay Coastal Strategy and tasked it to call regular coordination meetings with other concerned departments and agencies of the government to ensure the successful implementation of the action plan.

"The Manila Bay's clean-up is a primary concern of the administration and of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo," Atienza said. “President Arroyo also is committed to the pursuit of river clean up nationwide.”

But Atienza pointed out the clean up efforts should not be limited to Manila Bay but must also include the Laguna Lake and the Pasig River.

He said "without these two rivers being rehabilitated, all efforts to revive the Manila Bay will go to waste.

“We must rid these two water bodies of wastes and illegal fishpens.”

The DENR chief reiterated his call for the two major water concessionaires in Metro Manila, Manila Water and Maynilad Water Services, to fast track the setting up of wastewater treatment facilities in their respective area coverage to finally make it possible to start an honest-to-goodness cleanup of Manila Bay.

Atienza said: “With the SC decision, there is no more excuse for Manila Water and Maynilad to dilly-dally with their obligation to put up wastewater treatment facilities.

"Consumers have been paying sewerage fees for so long, yet up to now they have not delivered such service.

"The treatment facilities are essential in cleaning up Manila Bay, including the Pasig River and the Laguna Lake.”:cheers:

Aside from DENR, other agencies tasked by the SC to undertake immediate action to bring back Manila Bay to its former splendor were the Departments of Public Works and Highways, Interior and Local Government, Health, Budget and Management, Education and Agriculture; the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police-Maritime Group, Philippine Ports Authority and the Metro Manila Development Authority. (PNA)

barrera_marquez

December 20th, 2008, 11:20 AM

reggiedoc

December 22nd, 2008, 03:13 AM

MMDA starts cleanup of Metro rivers :banana::banana:

By Allison Lopez
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:46:00 12/22/2008

Filed Under: Government offices & agencies, Waste Management & Pollution Control

MANILA, Philippines—The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Sunday said it has begun rehabilitating river systems in Metro Manila, starting with the Marikina River.
The goal, MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando said, would be to make the body of water of “recreational quality” by the end of next year.

Fernando explained that under the program called “One River System at a Time,” rivers in Metro Manila would be cleaned up through the installation of sewage treatment plants that would process household and industrial waste.

“We decided to come up with this program to bring back the glory of Metro Manila’s river system. We wanted the younger generation of Filipinos to appreciate and enjoy the beauty of our waterways,” he said.

The program also calls for the removal of shanties on riverbanks or illegal structures that block the flow of water.

The MMDA said it would intensify its crackdown on illegal settlers following the Supreme Court ruling which ordered it to work with other government agencies in cleaning up Manila Bay.

Fernando said they have started implementing plans to relocate some 75,000 illegal settler families living in the Greater Manila area.

Recently, the MMDA demolished some 3,000 shanties near the San Juan River as part of its flood control efforts, he added.

The rehabilitation of the 11-km Marikina River, according to Fernando who used to be Marikina mayor, was already underway with the help of the local government unit and the private sector.

“We are starting with the Marikina River so that the experience and skills we gained can be used when we do the same thing to the other waterways,” he said.

“We will make the Marikina River of recreational quality by December 2009. By that time, 80 percent of Metro Manila’s residents will be able to smell and have a taste of clean water. They can go boating and have picnics along the river shore,” added Fernando.

The MMDA said the rehabilitation of the nine-kilometer long San Juan River would be next, followed by Pasig River and the Parañaque, Navotas-Malabon-Tenejeros-Tullahan Rivers.

crappypants

December 22nd, 2008, 04:03 AM

River ba Laguna Lake?

i think it's an ocean ate

crappypants

December 22nd, 2008, 04:30 AM

is it true the habit of Filipinos throwing garbage into the river came from the CHinese who used to throw their restaurant refuse into the river?

barrera_marquez

December 22nd, 2008, 07:49 AM

i think it's an ocean ate

Sabi kasi sa balita two rivers: Pasig River and Laguna de Bay...

JulZ

December 22nd, 2008, 08:12 AM

ang galing talaga ng MMDA! :banana:

skyscraper100

December 25th, 2008, 08:39 PM

http://i43.tinypic.com/6hupld.jpg

Marikina river,kelan kaya opening ng riverbank station?..
i thought december.

barrera_marquez

December 26th, 2008, 02:05 AM

http://i43.tinypic.com/6hupld.jpg

Marikina river,kelan kaya opening ng riverbank station?..
i thought december.

^^ Ang daming isda sa Marikina River. Malayo sa Pasig River.

Arciga_01

December 26th, 2008, 08:11 AM

Yay! Malilinis narin ang Manila Bay at Laguna lake! Kaso Pano naman un Pateros, Taguig at San juan river? Tapos, Pano nila idedemolish un shanties along the long stretch of Manggahan floodway? Sa sobrang dami ng squatters dito, it would be a miracle to demolish them all..

barrera_marquez

December 26th, 2008, 09:06 AM

^^ Pati Pasig River... iyan talaga ang inaabangan ko kasi ang daming gumagamit niyan lalo na yung mga ferry boats... not to mention historical...

crappypants

December 27th, 2008, 12:20 AM

yes first and foremost to be squatter free should be the river banks. including the flood ways .

Arciga_01

December 28th, 2008, 07:33 PM

It would take a DAMN MIRACLE To remove this:
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e181/hades_sector/2006_0614%20manila%20aerial/small/floodway.jpg

(picture of Manggahan Floodway)

leechtat

December 29th, 2008, 09:13 AM

^^ i agree... but not exactly DAMN MIRACLE for things to be done; impossible circumstances are only for those who does not have the will to take on arduous challenges...

i bet bayani fernando can clean that place up... they would need to be relocated though... but recent news stated that mass housing is a priority project for 2009, let's hope it comes to reality...

kalbongdad

December 29th, 2008, 11:25 AM

amen.....bigay mo yan kay bayani.....ubos yan wala pang isang taon....anyway...pagbabago sa isipan ang kailangan ng mga kababayan natin...na hindi lang pagiging iskwater ang kaya nila...pwede silang makaalpas sa kalagayan nila ngayon.....makipag cooperate lang sila sa pamahalaan....mas maganda ang mga binibigay na relocation ng gobyerno kakainggit nag minsan....habang tayo na nagbabayad ng taxes..hindi tayo binibigyan ng libreng relocation at pabahay.....:lol:

le Reine

December 31st, 2008, 10:33 AM

I don't think we need a miracle. Heck, we've said that about PNR squatters, and now they're gone!

Arciga_01

January 1st, 2009, 02:51 AM

It would still require a miracle kasi, un squatters along the floodway ay merong malalaking bahay at doble ang dami neto kaysa sa mga PNR lines.

IndioBravo

January 1st, 2009, 07:35 PM

Political will and better planning by the private and public sector might help.:) Happy New Year guys!..Let's hope 2009 will be better for our beloved Filipinas!! Mabuhay SSC!

nayki

January 2nd, 2009, 04:15 PM

Legally speaking mas madali yata mag paalis ng squater sa gilid gilid ng Pasig River. Not that sure pero ang alam ko may existing law sa constitution na nag babawal sa pag tira sa tabing ilog at other water sources.

Asturiano

January 3rd, 2009, 02:32 AM

Kahit na may existing law pa eh hinde naman ito nasusunod. Ang problema sa Filipinas gawa sila ng gawa ng batas na hinde naman nila alam ipatupad. Sa tingin ninyo aalis ba yong mga squatter na yan, kung hinde sila bibigyan ng pabahay kagaya sa mga squatters sa riles. Kahit alam nila, na sila ang nasa mali eh masmalakas pa ang mga apog na magalit at lumalaban sa mga otoridad nag mag papatalsik sakanila. Sabagay hinde nyo rin sila masisisi na magalit sa gobiyerno sa pagkat sa maling sistema ng gobiyerno kung bakit sila naghihirap.

Arciga_01

January 4th, 2009, 02:10 AM

Ang problema ay, Hinde naman mahihirap un squatters along The floodway. Infact nga, may cable tv sila eh at un iba, malalaki pa nga un house. Kaya, Hinde sila makakapag reklamo na mahirap sila. Kaya pwedeng pwede palayasin :naughty:

FlashCollider

January 5th, 2009, 11:35 PM

i think it's an ocean ate

Laguna Lake is a Lake not a river or an ocean. Pacific, Atlantic are example of Ocean.

I really do hope they would do something about the Pasig River, and i hope people will have different mindset about the Pasig River.

FlashCollider

January 5th, 2009, 11:37 PM

It would take a DAMN MIRACLE To remove this:
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e181/hades_sector/2006_0614%20manila%20aerial/small/floodway.jpg

(picture of Manggahan Floodway)

Then let us start praying for one....

Arciga_01

January 6th, 2009, 12:17 AM

Lets pray for a miracle sa lahat ng santo at dyos ng lahat ng available na rehiliyon para lang maalis yan! :naughty: :lol:

filcan

January 6th, 2009, 12:48 AM

It might look hard...but its really not...but it won't take a day...thats for sure...

ruralvillage

January 6th, 2009, 02:02 AM

SC has given several gov't agencies such as MMDA, DENR, etc. to clear and unclog waterways, to clean rivers and lakes, to remove squatters from dangerous areas, etc.

Something big will happen within a year. :)

crappypants

January 6th, 2009, 02:54 AM

of course it doesn't need a miracle, all it needs is plenty of action and dedication

Arciga_01

January 6th, 2009, 05:58 PM

Would be awesome if the floodway got cleared from the wraths of those squatters. Sobra talagang eye sore sya kahit sa land man o sa ere.

Pagkatapos alisin un mga squatters, palitan sila ng mangroves at un westbank road, laparan then taniman din ng mangroves un tabi ng road.

Imagine the view when those squatters are removed and replaced with mangroves!!

crappypants

January 6th, 2009, 07:56 PM

Laguna Lake is a Lake not a river or an ocean. Pacific, Atlantic are example of Ocean.

I really do hope they would do something about the Pasig River, and i hope people will have different mindset about the Pasig River.

oh, so Laguna lake is a lake, figures.

Asturiano

January 7th, 2009, 04:49 AM

EH ano naman ang pagkakaiba ng bahia de laguna sa laguna de bay at sa lawa ng laguna.

le Reine

January 7th, 2009, 03:53 PM

oh, so Laguna lake is a lake, figures.

EH ano naman ang pagkakaiba ng bahia de laguna sa laguna de bay at sa lawa ng laguna.The Province of Laguna was named after Laguna de Bay, the body of water that forms its northern boundary. Laguna de Bay, in turn, was named after the town of Bay (Laguna de Bay is Spanish which means "Lake of Bay"), the first provincial capital.

source wiki

carlo pontevedra

January 7th, 2009, 04:22 PM

How's the Makati/Mandaluyong portion of the Pasig River? Has it been cleared of squatters?

Arciga_01

January 8th, 2009, 01:44 PM

I still see tons of squatters around the pasig river especially in Makati-Mandaluyong Area

sloanesquare

January 9th, 2009, 11:54 AM

I still see tons of squatters around the pasig river especially in Makati-Mandaluyong Area
i can only add that when i see dilapidated housing with rusty corrugated iron roofs in the makati area then they must be squatters since it defies logic for them to be landowners but have housing that depicts them to be poor since the land price is high....e.g. on the right side of the kalayaan flyover from fort to buendia..who are they? or the occupants of the laperal compund...why call it laperal compound unless it is owned by the laperal family who by the way are in - laws of DMCI

again it defies logic like Roxas Boulevard and pasay City..the most precious real estate should be near Pasig River and Manila Bay...instead the squatters have it...thank goodness SM had a grand plan for Manila Bay reclaimed (part 2) because the first part of Manila Bay reclaimed which includes the Aristocrat restaurant and Malate church and EDSA up to FBHarrison street failed aesthetically.

dvbaicrviser

January 9th, 2009, 03:45 PM

wala kasi silang pakialam sa potential ng pasig river kung aayusin lang talaga. ang laki ng iaakyat na kita nito sa bawat lungsod na dadaanan nito. restaurants, hotels, condominiums, museums, art galleries, at boat cruises na may restaurant ang mga pwedeng ideya kung seseryosohin lang ang pagpapaganda ng ilog. may plano na nga si Palafox, implementation na lang at kamay na bakal ang kailangan para ipatupad ito. parang awa naman ng mga namumuno, ibalik ninyo ang katinuan at disiplina sa pagsasaayos ng ilog pasig. :ohno:

kiretoce

January 11th, 2009, 09:55 PM

IQdgLy4_vQw
Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQdgLy4_vQw)

au_Tl1T1XEs
Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au_Tl1T1XEs)

Arciga_01

January 11th, 2009, 10:07 PM

That song gives me goosebumps! Atleast, Ngayon, Malinis na ang pasig river kumpara nung 90's!

reggiedoc

January 13th, 2009, 10:03 PM

ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. (USA) Rebuilding A Nation from the Bottom Up
Tuesday, 06 January 2009 23:20 Malou L. Aguilar
ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. (USA) Rebuilding A Nation from the Bottom Up

No other foundation could ever be as hardworking and zealous in its mission to build a better world for the next generation of Filipinos than ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. (AFI). The socio-civic arm of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, one of Asia’s biggest media conglomerate, AFI offers outreach programs for children, their families and their families, and their community.

Extending its reach to Filipinos here in the United States, AFI USA is dedicated to raising funds to help improve the lives of abused and disadvantaged children and women in the Philippines. Through the backing and programs of AFI in the Philippines, AFI USA accomplishes its mission to alleviate problems like poverty, calamity relief, education and environmental concerns.

Gina Lopez, ABS-CBN Foundation Philippines’ Managing Director and Board Member for AFI USA, believes that it is important for Filipinos overseas to extend help to their kababayans. "Because the Philippines is their heritage," she said and explained, "Helping is not limited to physical locations. Even though you’re not here, you’re still part of the history, sharing common bondage of being Filipino. It doesn’t mean you stop doing your responsibility."

Projects

Although AFI USA has a number of programs in its fold, three major projects are now being pushed aggressively. One is the BayaniJuan initiative (Country of Juan), which was launched in May 2008. It is an integration of all Foundation programmes including Bayan Microfinance at the grassroots level. BayaniJuan brings together all of AFI’s programs and more in a comprehensive campaign designed to rehabilitate the most impoverished regions and communities in the Philippines.

BayaniJuan is about building the country from the bottom up in the spirit of bayanihan," said Lopez. "Education, nutrition, environment, money – these are simple, important things that make life complete. The (economic) numbers alone don’t translate the nation’s progress."

Bantay Kalikasan was launched to serve as a catalyst in addressing the concern over the worsening state of the Philippine environment characterized by air and water pollution, denudation of forests, irresponsible waste disposal and their life-threatening effects. Two major projects -- Eco-Tourism and The Pasig River Rehabilitation Project are slated to roll out with the recent signing of the Memorandum of Agreement with DOT and DENR for Eco-Tourism in four strategic areas: the Tubattaha Reef, the Verde Passage, Region 5 - the Bicol Region and El Nido; and a signed MOA with DENR to undertake the cleaning of the Pasig River - Manila Bay and Laguna Lake.

Lopez explains AFI’s mission and vision in pushing for cleaning up Manila’s major waterway. "The project’s impact is beyond Manila," she said and added, "We have 400 river systems in the country, and we have to act together. This project shows there is a way." She also mentioned that the project has symbolic benefits, that Pasig River is part of our history. "Tagalog actually comes from the word, ‘taga-ilog.’ We are essentially river people...But would we want to be called mga taga-ilog na madumi?"

"These are three mammoth projects - and I have jupitarean confidence - that much can be accomplished. I have good government partners - and the power that comes from great dreams that benefit a multitude," Lopez stated.

"We, in the ABS-CBN Foundation are truly blessed - and we are looking forward to ever greater partnership with our stakeholders - and with the rest of our Kapamilya as we continue - no holds barred - to let our country realize its and our dreams."

Other programs espoused by the foundation are the Bantay Bata (Child Watch), a 24-hour child abuse rescue operation, Educational TV (ETV), a value formation and curriculum enhancement program for public elementary school children and Sagip Kapamilya (Saving the Family Members), a calamity relief and rehabilitation program.

reggiedoc

January 20th, 2009, 07:19 AM

Wastewater discharged into Manila Bay to be tested
01/02/2009 | 08:47 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Wastewater discharged into creeks will soon be analyzed by the government after the Supreme Court ordered the cleanup of Manila Bay where liquid wastes are drained.

To be undertaken by the Environment Management Bureau (EMB), the analysis will be one among many “necessary preventive measures" to combat pollution in Manila Bay, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said in a statement.

A meeting of multi-agency Manila Bay Coordinating Committee (MBCC) will soon be convened to discuss the bay’s rehabilitation, DENR Secretary Lito L. Atienza said.

To improve the bay’s water quality, Atienza said that two Metro Manila water concessionaires—Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. Inc.—should immediately establish wastewater treatment facilities. Pasig River should also be similarly rehabilitated because the waterway that divides Manila’s eastern and western parts flows into the bay.

The MBCC is an inter-agency body to implement, monitor, and evaluate the bay’s operation plan. Besides the DENR, its member-agencies include the Departments of Transportation and Communication, Health, Interior and Local Government, Agriculture, Science and Technology.

The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) are also counted as the body’s members.

Local government units (LGUs) that are part of the MBCC are the provincial governments of Pampanga, Bataan, Bulacan and Cavite, and the city governments of Manila, Las Piñas, Paranaque, Pasay, and Malabon. - GMANews.TV

barrera_marquez

January 20th, 2009, 03:05 PM

Arciga_01

January 20th, 2009, 08:41 PM

Oo nga ^^ :lol:

RonnieR

January 26th, 2009, 03:40 PM

The trip from Escolta to Guadalupe was fairly good. A lot of improvements need to be done esp. the informal settlers along the riverbanks otherwise, it's worth it.

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/pasigferrytripjan242009008.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/pasigferrytripjan242009011.jpg
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/pasigferrytripjan242009012.jpg

clean and spacious inside the ferry
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/pasigferrytripjan242009009.jpg

a view above the bridge, Feati University and an old building
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/pasigferrytripjan242009003.jpg

a terminal
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/pasigferrytripjan242009016.jpg

with slogan: resurrect Pasig River again!
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/pasigferrytripjan242009014.jpg

St. Jude Catholic School
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/pasigferrytripjan242009007.jpg

Cardinal Sin building - don't know what is this, for the poor?
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/pasigferrytripjan242009015.jpg

thomasian

January 26th, 2009, 06:37 PM

with slogan: resurrect Pasig River again!
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/pasigferrytripjan242009014.jpg

Resurrecting na, alive pa! :D San ka pa! :lol:

skyscraper100

January 27th, 2009, 12:56 AM

^^ walang himala! siguro pag natanggal na ang mga informal settler at mga factories dyan sa pasig river obvious naman na sila ang major pollutants ayaw pang paalisin,naku naman, DEKADA na ang nakalipas puro slogan lang ang ginagawa ng mga otoridad!

pano naman pupunta mga turista dyan ang baho na,wala nang bakas ng history meron siguro either bulok na o fake na structure na lang. napaka 3rd world ng ganitong sitwasyon.

RonnieR

January 27th, 2009, 04:15 AM

^^ it's good that the ferry is full A/C kaya you won't smell the bad air kung meron man....

barrera_marquez

January 27th, 2009, 04:04 PM

^^ it's good that the ferry is full A/C kaya you won't smell the bad air kung meron man....

Depende kung nakasara lahat ng pinto. Kung biglang umusok yung asbestos (which is very mabaho dahil iyan ang ginagamit na pampintura sa ferry, pero temporary lang naman ito at after that, mawawala na rin iyon) or may nanigarilyo (almost impossible) e maamoy ng lahat.

filcan

January 28th, 2009, 04:47 AM

...or may nanigarilyo (almost impossible) e maamoy ng lahat.

^^pwede ba mag-yosi sa loob ng ferry?

RonnieR

January 28th, 2009, 07:35 AM

^^pwede ba mag-yosi sa loob ng ferry?

No...not allowed. it's full AC...

barrera_marquez

January 28th, 2009, 03:15 PM

No...not allowed. it's full AC...

Pwede sa labas, marami na akong nakakasabay na naninigarilyo sa ferry. But they have two problems:

1. They throw the cigarette on the river itself. Ano ba naman iyan?!

2. Naninigarilyo sila malapit sa mga container ng gasolina. Isang maling hagis lang, mala-MV Doña Paz na ang aabutin ng ferry diyan. *knock on wood*

IndioBravo

January 28th, 2009, 10:22 PM

Arciga_01

January 29th, 2009, 02:16 AM

Pwede sa labas, marami na akong nakakasabay na naninigarilyo sa ferry. But they have two problems:

1. They throw the cigarette on the river itself. Ano ba naman iyan?!

2. Naninigarilyo sila malapit sa mga container ng gasolina. Isang maling hagis lang, mala-MV Doña Paz na ang aabutin ng ferry diyan. *knock on wood*

Report mo yan sa namamahala ng ferry o para mas extreme...sa MMDA :naughty:

johnmizer

January 30th, 2009, 05:31 AM

eh tulak sa ilog!

Waldenstrom

January 30th, 2009, 07:31 AM

Pwede sa labas, marami na akong nakakasabay na naninigarilyo sa ferry. But they have two problems:

1. They throw the cigarette on the river itself. Ano ba naman iyan?!

2. Naninigarilyo sila malapit sa mga container ng gasolina. Isang maling hagis lang, mala-MV Doña Paz na ang aabutin ng ferry diyan. *knock on wood*
Oh well, Pinoys only act on something after something tragic happens. Why can't they prohibit passengers on smoking while aboard? And they even throw cigarette butts on the river :ohno: The crew and these passengers are plain sick.

RonnieR

January 30th, 2009, 07:56 AM

I'm glad RonnieR you enjoyed your 1st PF trip....What I don't get is why can't the public take pics of malacanan. It's the best architectural site in the river that you can take a photo. Sometimes, it feels like RP is a communist state. And again, it will be good to show videos about the Pasig river on the ferry, instead of too much karaoke.:)

Yes, I enjoyed it so much...first time to travel along Pasig....yeah, I attempted nga to take a picture of Malacanang...I was so glad to see it personally, sa postcard or newspapers ko lang nakita ang Malacanang facade but the crew was standing beside me and told me na di daw talaga pwede....there was a coast guard, too.

RonnieR

January 30th, 2009, 07:57 AM

Oh well, Pinoys only act on something after something tragic happens. Why can't they prohibit passengers on smoking while aboard? And they even throw cigarette butts on the river :ohno: The crew and these passengers are plain sick.

You should try and experience the smooth ride. :)

Waldenstrom

January 30th, 2009, 10:50 AM

^^ I might, soon. I heard the ride is smooth but I'm referring to people who smokes while not thinking of the safety of other passengers and those throw the cigarette butts on the river.

thomasian

January 30th, 2009, 09:39 PM

^^ I might, soon. I heard the ride is smooth but I'm referring to people who smokes while not thinking of the safety of other passengers and those throw the cigarette butts on the river.

Eh that's water, of course the ride should be smooth. If it's bumpy, iba na yun. :D

But yeah, minsan may mga "lubak", tulad nung pag merong floating logs o kaya eh coconut trunks na may "blag" pag nadaanan ng ferry. :colgate:

barrera_marquez

January 31st, 2009, 01:55 AM

Eh that's water, of course the ride should be smooth. If it's bumpy, iba na yun. :D

But yeah, minsan may mga "lubak", tulad nung pag merong floating logs o kaya eh coconut trunks na may "blag" pag nadaanan ng ferry. :colgate:

May lubak din sa Pasig River kung may makakasalubong kang isa pang ferry o petuya... malalakas gumawa ng alon ang mga iyon.

thomasian

January 31st, 2009, 07:01 AM

^^ Ay hindi na lubak yun, humps na yun, madaming humps. :D

Arciga_01

February 1st, 2009, 05:57 AM

^^ :lol:

ruralvillage

February 1st, 2009, 06:41 AM

chris_nigel

February 1st, 2009, 01:26 PM

sana sumugla uli pasig disiplina lang naman kailangan natin eh

kalbongdad

February 1st, 2009, 03:16 PM

sana sumugla uli pasig disiplina lang naman kailangan natin eh

i think pasig is on the way to recovery.....the water is not black anymore and the foul smell is gone.....medyo there are certain areas lang na meron pang basura...minsan meron pa dumping of smelly bombs...sa banks mismo....anyway i think ming ramos should be commended for all these mukhang yung organization lang nila ang tuloy tuloy na nakikipag laban sa pasig...yung iba para lang sa photo op...

chris_nigel

February 2nd, 2009, 02:46 PM

ahh yung piso para sa pasig.. remember those days..sana nga malinis na yan kahit papano sa mga squatters tiyak magiging malinis na uli tubig dyan

thomasian

February 2nd, 2009, 05:50 PM

ahh yung piso para sa pasig.. remember those days..sana nga malinis na yan kahit papano sa mga squatters tiyak magiging malinis na uli tubig dyan

Ming Ramos may still be on the line but I think it's now the Lopezes' turn. I do think what they've done and are still doing at the La Mesa watershed can also be done for the Pasig River. I believe they have the power to campaign for the total rehabilitation of the Pasig River and make people care. Because when the people are aware of the real status of the river, they would care, take steps in their own small way just to help bring the Pasig river back to life.

manila_eye

February 2nd, 2009, 07:40 PM

^^ What can the Lopezes do about Pasig? Unlike La Mesa, they don't have any direct stake on Pasig River.

thomasian

February 3rd, 2009, 12:30 AM

^^ The power of media. They can make the message of saving Pasig River reach a wider audience.

Media mileage will go a long way.

venntro

February 3rd, 2009, 02:25 AM

Not to mention the fact that Rockwell is practically along Pasig River. The future Lopez headquarters will also be located in Rockwell so for the Lopezes to showcase their environmental concern, they should help also in the rehabilitation of their immediate environment.

chris_nigel

February 3rd, 2009, 03:49 AM

Maganda din nagawa ng mga Lopez sa La Mesa siguro magagawa din nila yan sa pasig river this coming years lets hope ang pray na mangyari nga

venntro

February 3rd, 2009, 05:46 AM

^^ No published plans yet from the Lopezes but let's hope they do it in the near future.

Sky Harbor

February 8th, 2009, 04:18 PM

Cardinal Sin building - don't know what is this, for the poor?
http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd350/RonnieR_2008/pasigferrytripjan242009015.jpg

The Cardinal Sin Village is a home for retired priests. :colgate:

RonnieR

February 8th, 2009, 05:02 PM

^^^ thanks for the info.....didn't know that :)

RonnieR

February 8th, 2009, 05:06 PM

reposting from other thread:

They looked only marginally smaller to the ones we have here in Sydney, it was just missing the outdoor areas, somewhere where you really don't want to be whilst floating on the Pasig.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasig_River_Ferry_Service
http://migs.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/pasig-river-ferry.jpg

EDIT: there's a Pasig River thread already. http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=752686&page=4

venntro

February 9th, 2009, 02:53 AM

The Cardinal Sin Village is a home for retired priests. :colgate:

^^ Where is this Cardinal Sin Village exactly along Pasig?

renell

February 9th, 2009, 03:36 AM

How long would the trip be from Marikina to the last ferry station in Intramuros? Anyone taken it?

thomasian

February 9th, 2009, 04:15 AM

^^ Where is this Cardinal Sin Village exactly along Pasig?

When you're going downstream, it's right after the Sta Ana station, to the right of the river on that u-turn shaped curve.

venntro

February 9th, 2009, 04:20 AM

^^ Thanks.

RonnieR

February 9th, 2009, 05:12 AM

How long would the trip be from Marikina to the last ferry station in Intramuros? Anyone taken it?

I've tried Escolta station to Guadalupe, 55 minutes...smooth ride.

venntro

February 9th, 2009, 05:39 AM

I've tried Escolta station to Guadalupe, 55 minutes...smooth ride.

^^ At least there's now an alternative mode of transport from old manila to Makati area.

jamir57

February 9th, 2009, 09:31 AM

magkano pamasahe?

RonnieR

February 9th, 2009, 04:10 PM

magkano pamasahe?

fares range from P25 to P45....I think I paid P45, forgot the exact fare from Escolta to Guadalupe... so cheap...it's full AC.

Batang Lambak

February 9th, 2009, 08:01 PM

Bukas na ba Marcos Highway Station sa Marikina? Last I heard around December hindi natuloy ang opening dahil mababaw daw ang tubig sa ilog sasayad ang ferry boat. Ewan ko kung naayos na.

venntro

February 10th, 2009, 05:39 AM

fares range from P25 to P45....I think I paid P45, forgot the exact fare from Escolta to Guadalupe... so cheap...it's full AC.

^^ The fare is quite reasonable enough.

chris_nigel

February 10th, 2009, 07:03 AM

madadaanan ba malakanyang palace pag nag ferry boat?

venntro

February 10th, 2009, 07:05 AM

madadaanan ba malakanyang palace pag nag ferry boat?

^^ Yup, the ferry ride passes by Malacanang but strictly no photos or videos when the ferry passes in front of the Palace.

renell

February 10th, 2009, 03:09 PM

how does that work, the ferry is suddenly filled with MIB's (men in barong) and M16s?

kinda lame if you were a tourist and you were let down.

ericlucky290

February 10th, 2009, 06:27 PM

I think merong nakasakay na PSG sa boat. Am I right?

RonnieR

February 11th, 2009, 06:42 AM

how does that work, the ferry is suddenly filled with MIB's (men in barong) and M16s?

kinda lame if you were a tourist and you were let down.

Only one coast guard. The boat crew reminded the passengers in a nice way...not to take pictures. Not intimidating....not armed.

venntro

February 11th, 2009, 06:51 AM

^^ But I remember seeing in a TV show that there were PSG men on board. Perhaps, just for show.

RonnieR

February 11th, 2009, 06:52 AM

^^ yeah...but I only saw one unarmed guy in uniform....didn't his gun, though....he might have kept it :)

the announcement came from the crew....

chris_nigel

February 12th, 2009, 04:24 AM

ericlucky290

February 12th, 2009, 07:26 AM

ganun sayang naman bakit yung white house sinara na nila yung street from vehicles naging pedestrian na just for the people to view the white house properly sana dapat danun na din sa atin wala naman si GMA dun sa mismo ata sa building na yun

Aquino, FVR and Erap did not use that building as their office but I think GMA did. She went back where her father and other president before Marcos held office. Parang nakita ko to sa TV before.

chris_nigel

February 13th, 2009, 06:37 AM

talaga san mo napanood

sick_n_tired

February 14th, 2009, 07:44 AM

Photo by: yajgraphics (http://www.flickr.com/photos/yajgraphics/3256594521/)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3124/3256594521_2102a64d57.jpg?v=0

venntro

February 15th, 2009, 02:47 AM

It's in the front page of the Inquirer that Gina Lopez will spearhead a project with the DENR and PRRC to rehabilitate and revive the Pasig River in 7 years. It's a massive program to cost at least P700million excluding the costs to relocate illegal settlers along the Pasig River. Great news!!

filcan

February 15th, 2009, 05:26 AM

Is there a way to read the article? :)

kratos1211

February 15th, 2009, 09:38 AM

Is there a way to read the article? :)

Pasig River back from dead in 7 yrs

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090215-189376/Pasig-River-back-from-dead-in-7-yrs

dvbaicrviser

February 15th, 2009, 12:29 PM

Ano kaya magandang paraan para malinis itong Pasig river. Sayang talaga. Parang hindi naman naasikaso ng mga lokal na gobyernong dinadaanan ng ilog.

Arciga_01

February 15th, 2009, 02:04 PM

Ten ways to clean pasig river:

1: Educate the stupid masses
2: Disipline the masses
3: Build large scale water treatment plants on laguna de bay shore
4: Clean up the secondary rivers (like san juan tae river) and creeks that flows to the water bodies near and directly to pasig river.
5: Kill the corrupt politicians.
6: Revamp the 100+ years old Manila Sewage system.
7: Reroute the sewage lines so it wont flow DIRECTLY to the river
8: Support instead of dissing MMDA for there effort in clearing everything in MM
9: Plant mangroves on the empty parts of manila bay and on pasig river itself.
10: Relocate those squatters far away from Metro manila.

dvbaicrviser

February 15th, 2009, 02:15 PM

Arciga_01

February 15th, 2009, 03:19 PM

Para Malinis din ang pinas :naughty:

filcan

February 15th, 2009, 04:31 PM

Pasig River back from dead in 7 yrs

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090215-189376/Pasig-River-back-from-dead-in-7-yrs

Thanks!

Pasig River back from dead in 7 yrs

By DJ Yap
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:33:00 02/15/2009

Filed Under: Nature, Environmental Issues

MANILA, Philippines—Once upon a time, it was like the “winding river of Paris and canals of Venice.”

But now, the Pasig River is a dead river—a mere repository of human waste and garbage, and an ugly, murky shadow of its former self.

But a private sector-led movement harbors tall ambitions for these languishing waters, which once upon a time, served as inspiration to poets and artisans of old Manila.

Hopes are running high that the Pasig River can be resuscitated and returned to its original glory—sparkling waters, a healthy riverbank and thriving fish and aquatic life. And, according to Gina Lopez of the ABS-CBN Foundation, it can be done in seven years.

“We have a game plan. There’s technology to shift the river, but what is more important is changing the mind-set of Filipinos,” Lopez says during a recent visit to the Inquirer office in Makati City.

The move to rehabilitate the river is gaining ground, she says, thanks to continued efforts to promote corporate social responsibility among private companies and the involvement of other concerned sectors in the project.

In mid-2008, the ABS-CBN Foundation, under Lopez’s helm, entered into an agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the rehabilitation and development of the country’s major river basins, including the Pasig River.

The hope is that these efforts will result in cleaning the polluted waters of the river well enough so that by 2016, it shall have reached Class C level, Lopez says. “That means you can catch fish in it and eat it.”

Class B means people can swim in it and do other recreational activities, while Class A means the water is drinkable.

‘D as in dead’

Lopez does not know for sure which class the Pasig River has reached, although she surmises, “it’s probably Class D, as in dead.”

She quotes the master architect Daniel Burnham who said that Manila was once described as “possessing the bay of Naples, the winding river of Paris, and the canals of Venice,” referring to the Pasig River system and its tributaries.

Lopez says she has heard many stories about how the Pasig River was so clean that newly circumcised boys were told to chew guava leaves, spit the extract on their privates, and jump into the river.

“Imagine how clean the river must have been that people used it to [disinfect their privates],” she says. “It’s a shame such memories of the Pasig River are being eroded over time by its current, filthy state.”

Methane whirlpool

She recalls a visit to San Juan River, one of the major tributaries of the Pasig River: “We were looking at heaps of trash when I saw whirlpools on the surface. I asked the people, what are those?”

“They told me they were whirlpools of methane. I was shocked. The river was not only dead, it even had methane gas bubbling up toward the surface,” Lopez narrates.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if something mutated and came out of it and started eating people,” she says in jest.

She adds that she even saw what looked like a “shark’s fin” rise to the surface and was told it was a janitor fish, which was feeding on the garbage.

Janitor fish, she says, wreak havoc on the river systems, as they “eat other fish, eat garbage and eat everything in its path.”

P700-million program

The rehabilitation of the Pasig River, which Lopez is comanaging with the DENR and the Pasig River Rehabilitation Program, will require some P700 million in funds.

She hopes to raise the amount through corporate and private sector donations.

The amount, however, does not cover the effort to relocate squatters on the river banks. These informal settlers are reportedly responsible for much of the household wastes thrown into the water.

Lopez says all their efforts would be for naught should they fail to relocate the illegal settlers because the river would just go back to its old state.

“This is why I also wanted management powers in the relocation and housing part of it. We have to make sure they would have better lives in the relocation sites. Otherwise, they would just return to their shanties around the river,” she says.

One possible solution is to work with organizations like Gawad Kalinga and Habitat for Humanity in building houses for the relocated squatters.

Media’s role

The mass media will play a major role in the rehabilitation effort.

“If we did this without the media, the politicians would not take notice. But with media attention, they would be compelled to take action, considering that next year is an election year,” Lopez says.

Media can help by exposing polluters and monitoring their activities. They can encourage community and corporate efforts in cleaning up the river, she adds. Media can also highlight the most successful models and stories and usher in a shift in consciousness among the public.

Lopez believes the private sector should be the driving force in the rehabilitation of the Pasig River to ensure the “consistency of effort,” unlike politician-driven policies that would just change every election year.

She says she has started talks with some scientists about the possibility of using “bio-remediation technology” for the Pasig River. The technology involves introducing “bacteria to eat other bacteria” with no harm to aquatic life.

New river, new life

To breathe new life into the Pasig River, changes should be made—not only in the physical sense, but also in the Filipinos’ consciousness.

“The river is intrinsically connected to our history and our identity as a people,” Lopez says.

Upon learning from her staff that the origin of the word “Tagalog” was taga-ilog or river dweller, she “almost fell off her chair.”

“How can we really be taga-ilog na marumi (from a river that’s unclean)?” she says.

Lopez adds: “The Pasig River is so connected to our psyche, to our consciousness. It’s so connected to who we are. We just cannot leave it the way it is now.”

RonnieR

February 16th, 2009, 08:53 AM

Thanks!

Pasig River back from dead in 7 yrs

By DJ Yap
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:33:00 02/15/2009

The amount, however, does not cover the effort to relocate squatters on the river banks. These informal settlers are reportedly responsible for much of the household wastes thrown into the water.

Lopez says all their efforts would be for naught should they fail to relocate the illegal settlers because the river would just go back to its old state.

“This is why I also wanted management powers in the relocation and housing part of it. We have to make sure they would have better lives in the relocation sites. Otherwise, they would just return to their shanties around the river,” she says.

One possible solution is to work with organizations like Gawad Kalinga and Habitat for Humanity in building houses for the relocated squatters.

This is the catch....the program excludes the relocation of illegal squatters. I don't think GK or Habitat would solve the problem, but they can lessen it.

The local gov't should initiate and exert political will in removing the eyesores. However, i doubt if it can be done before May 2010, election time.

venntro

February 16th, 2009, 09:26 AM

^^ But they do recognize the importance of the relocation of the squatters. They know that without such a relocation, their program will be for naught. Good thing there's such a massive program for our beloved Pasig River.

filcan

February 16th, 2009, 05:41 PM

Hopefully something like this can happen for the Pasig one day :)

Leave it to beaver to prove river cleaner
Animal spotted in Detroit after 75-year absence

BY JOHN GALLAGHER • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER • February 16, 2009

In a stunning sign of ecological recovery, beavers have returned to Detroit for the first time in perhaps a century.
Advertisement

A single beaver lodge has been discovered in an intake canal at Detroit Edison's Conners Creek power plant on Detroit's east riverfront. Edison workers using motion-sensitive cameras caught photographs and video of the beaver in November.

John Hartig, the Detroit River refuge manager for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said beavers were last spotted in the Detroit River at least 75 years ago, possibly as long ago as a century. Their return signals that a multiyear effort to clean up the river has paid off.

For more than two months, Detroit Edison personnel did not announce word of their find for fear humans might harm the animal. But since the animal's lodge is within the plant's fenced, secure grounds inaccessible to any but Detroit Edison workers, the company released the photos to the Free Press last week.

"It's part of that larger story of ecological recovery," Hartig said, citing the return of many species to the Detroit River area in recent years. Those include sturgeon, whitefish, peregrine falcons, bald eagles, walleye, and, now, a beaver.

"If it's cleaner for them, it's cleaner for us, too," Hartig said.
A mysterious journey

Beavers played a hugely important role in the founding of Detroit. The French explorer Antoine Laumet de la Mothe Cadillac established a fort on the strait here to serve the trade in beaver pelts, which were in demand by European hat makers. For the next 150 years, French, British, American and Native American trappers all but wiped out the animal in the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair region.

"By the 1800s, there were low levels of them and by 1930 they were virtually gone," Hartig said. "So we haven't seen one for an awfully long time around here."

Beavers are common in the Upper Peninsula and in northern lower Michigan, with some in Lapeer and northern Oakland County. The nearest beavers known in the greater Detroit area are on the Canadian side of Lake St. Clair, several miles from Detroit.

Hartig said presumably the Detroit Edison animal swam over from there. There also are beavers reported near the St. Clair River at the northern end of Lake St. Clair.

Why this beaver made the journey to the Detroit Edison intake canal is a mystery. It may have faced danger at its earlier site or simply gone in search of food. There are poplar trees at the Edison site, which happen to be a favorite source of bark for beavers.
Caught on tape

John Smith, a shift supervisor at the power plant, first heard talk of trees on the site being chopped down last year. He tramped along the path near the canal and saw felled trees and other evidence of a beaver at work.

Smith called Jason Cousino, a safety specialist at Edison's River Rouge plant who doubles as a wildlife coordinator. A coordinator works to enhance the appeal of the company's sites to migrating birds and other wildlife. Detroit Edison's parent company, DTE Energy, actively is involved with the non-profit Wildlife Habitat Council to enrich wildlife habitats on its many sites.

"I have to admit, I thought they were full of beans," Cousino said. But when he set up a motion-sensitive trail camera, he soon had evidence in black and white.

Photos in November show the beaver standing and nibbling at the bark of a fallen tree. A video shot the same month shows the beaver dragging branches away.

The single beaver at the Detroit Edison site -- Hartig said nobody knows if it's a male or female -- has chomped down several trees along the canal. Beavers are herbivores that eat tree bark in the winter when other plants are not available.

Even if curious humans could get close, they're not likely to get much of a glimpse. The animal is mostly nocturnal and survives by avoiding contact with humans. It enters and leaves its lodge under water. And it may not be at its current location for long, though there is fresh evidence it is still there. Hartig expects the animal to exhaust the supply of tree bark and other edibles near its lodge.

"He is going to eat himself out of this site, and he's going to move somewhere else," he said.
Cleaner water

Even up close, the beaver's lodge would be hard for a human to distinguish from a pile of sticks or driftwood. An old utility pole along the shoreline served as the architectural base on which the beaver constructed its lodge of sticks and other natural debris.

South of Detroit, a beaver lodge also was reported recently in Sterling State Park near Monroe. Hartig said naturalists think that beaver may have traveled up from Ohio waters.

The river's ecology is recovering, said Tim Payne, Southeast Michigan wildlife supervisor for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

"There's no question that having a cleaner river is having an impact on species coming back," he said.

Contact JOHN GALLAGHER at gallagher@freepress.com.

renell

February 17th, 2009, 01:10 AM

Yung 5th suggestion mo, mukhang di lang Pasig River ang malilinis. :lol:

pero sa kadami ng mga politiko, magiging genocide ;)

i don't think beaver will ever populate the Pasig, I mean even the world renowned Sydney Harbour isn't safe for commercial fishing. It should be clean from illegal settlers at the very least, for they not only habitate the river they also use it as their rubbish dump and sewage center.

Arciga_01

February 17th, 2009, 02:07 AM

newgabskii

February 17th, 2009, 02:13 AM

venntro

February 17th, 2009, 02:16 AM

all crocodiles in the pasig river already left to go to the goverment offices...

Marami sa Batasan niyan. :lol:

filcan

February 17th, 2009, 02:39 AM

all crocodiles in the pasig river already left to go to the goverment offices...

so then itapon ulit sila sa pasig! :lol:

venntro

February 17th, 2009, 04:45 AM

But it would be a miracle if the Philippine crocodile ( ? ) makes a comeback sa pasig river since dati diba maraming buwaya sa ilog pasig? . Sofar, ngayon, tao ang buwaya ng pasig river kaya ito namatay. :D

^^ Am not sure about Philippine crocodiles living in Pasig River because history showed us images of the river with locals frequently bathing , doing their laundries and even catching their food. If indeed crocodiles roam the river then people would not dare take a bath or wash their clothes. Perhaps way way before people populated the banks of the river, crocodiles may have been there.

newgabskii

February 17th, 2009, 05:00 AM

^^ Am not sure about Philippine crocodiles living in Pasig River because history showed us images of the river with locals frequently bathing , doing their laundries and even catching their food. If indeed crocodiles roam the river then people would not dare take a bath or wash their clothes. Perhaps way way before people populated the banks of the river, crocodiles may have been there.

bato-bato- sa langit tamaan wag mag react... :)
dont take it literaly... those crocodiles arent animals.. they are more than animals.... :) they already migrated from the pasig river to the goverment offices... hehehe

dvbaicrviser

February 17th, 2009, 08:39 AM

Diba sa Noli Me Tangere, may eksena dun na may napatay na buwaya si Elias sa Pasig River?

Tapos, sa Laguna lake nahuli yung pinakamalaking buwaya sa buong mundo, 27 feet ang haba, kalabaw na nga ang kinakain. May picture pa nung buwaya nung nahuli. Mga 1940's ata nung nahuli ito.

Arciga_01

February 17th, 2009, 11:08 AM

all crocodiles in the pasig river already left to go to the goverment offices...

Marami sa Batasan niyan. :lol:

so then itapon ulit sila sa pasig! :lol:

Wahahaha! :lol:

Oh yeah, I read somewhere na meron talagang buwaya sa ilog pasig dati. oo nga pala, interesting to :D : http://kwentongpinas.wordpress.com/2008/05/

5. The largest crocodile ever captured in the Philippines (1823) was found in Laguna de Bay.

dvbaicrviser

February 17th, 2009, 12:01 PM

Pasig River 2020. :)

http://www.labelscar.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/grand-avenue-mall-02.jpg

IndioBravo

February 17th, 2009, 01:34 PM

newgabskii

February 17th, 2009, 04:46 PM

It is not impossible to bring Pasig River back to life, if all of us pinoys will contribute in whatever we can, it can be done:) So thanks to G. lopez for stepping up to the challenge. Goodluck to her and to all of us, river dwellers.

GOOD LUCK TO PASIG RIVER... lets all bring our efforts of rehabilitating it so that we can all benefit it in the end...

let's always remember that in everything we do it we always turn back against us - law of gravity by the famous, Einstein...

we should apply it to pasig river... :)

Arciga_01

February 17th, 2009, 07:32 PM

Pasig River 2020. :)

http://www.labelscar.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/grand-avenue-mall-02.jpg

If that's the pasig in 2020, bakit ito lumiit ng todo? :lol:

Waldenstrom

February 19th, 2009, 03:52 AM

Aside from clean water, It should have lots of trees, plants and linear parks! That photo is still not good enough. :colgate:

sloanesquare

February 19th, 2009, 10:32 AM

Aside from clean water, It should have lots of trees, plants and linear parks! That photo is still not good enough. :colgate:
of course its good enough...binay built that for the squatters...gusto mo trees pa? talagang spoiled itong mga squatters

renell

February 21st, 2009, 05:27 AM

wherever that is, I don't think that should be the model the Pasig River should be aspiring to.

There should be more open spaces in which the public can appreciate the river. Also that river looks actually more of a canal, since that bridge has really low vertical clearance. Reviving the north bank Binondo buildings should be done, whoever owns those buildings needs to do something with it it's being a waste. Also I think reviving the mouth of the Pasig will require the pullout of at least the south part of the Ports. Let's bring it to Cavite or even Subic since our road facilities are up to par to international standards (and I hope its maintained that way).

dvbaicrviser

February 21st, 2009, 10:35 AM

Nagkamali ako, dapat pala kinumpara ko ito sa estero ng Maynila. Masyado nga palang makitid ito saka maganda na yung planong ginawa ni Palafox sa Pasig River, implementasyon na lang ang kulang.

Colonel Burger

February 23rd, 2009, 06:12 AM

is the pasig river really class D?

I can see some people cathching fish it and they eat it!

Gross as it may seem but some people still catch food in the river. so I guess its not exactly "dead"

dvbaicrviser

February 23rd, 2009, 06:39 AM

Sa parte ng Pasig City, pwede pa mangisda. pero sa bandang Manila ng Pasig River, malabo na ata. Pero nung early 1980's may nahuhuli pang dalag, hito at gurami sa estero ng Tripa de Galina sa bandang Sta. Ana, at nakakain pa.

RonnieR

February 23rd, 2009, 07:25 AM

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 02/23/2009 12:36 PM

I have tried all the modes of mass transportation in Manila: jeepneys, FXs, taxis, buses, railways (MRT, LRTs 1 and 3), shuttles of different colors, tricycles, padyaks. Riding public transports is a way of seeing the same place from a new perspective. For instance, Intramuros looked different from a kalesa; and Marikina on a bicycle looked idyllic. So when I heard of the ferry service two years ago, my initial reaction was to try it out.

"I wouldn't recommend it," a former co-worker in a travel magazine said. "The stench of the river is bad. There are too many squatters and you suddenly see unpleasant things floating."

The same notion of the Pasig ferry had caused the low flow of passengers when it started in 2007. Before the recent ferry service, there were two ferry lines in the 1990s, the Magsaysay Lines and the Starcraft Ferry. Both only lasted for a year because of low volume of passengers, and water pollution.

Two years later, the ferry ride was resurrected and it became an alternative mode of transportation in the Manila area. The ride starts from Napindan to Intramuros and stops by about 15 stations in-between. The ferry is well-equipped with television, a decent loo, safety jackets under the seats, and radio and sound system.

The ferry gets its most number of riders in the mornings and during late afternoons. During rush hour, the ferry's 150-passenger capacity is often filled, some even prefer to stand at the front of the ferryboat while watching cars and students and locals along the banks.

Efficiency wise, the travel time takes an hour and thirty minutes from Napindan to Intramuros. Travel time from one station to the other lasts for almost five minutes. The ticket cost, however, was undeniably pricier than the usual mass transport. My one-way trip from Guadalupe to Intramuros cost me P45 and the trip lasted for an hour. Tickets range from P25 to P60 depending on the nearness of the destination. An immediate come-on is that the trip is traffic-free, though trip intervals usually range from 30 minutes to two hours.

Sights

I lost count of the numerous types of trees along the river, there were simply too much to be written down. I never saw Pasig up close before this trip and so expected the worst—countless shanties of illegal dwellers, floating garbage, murky brownish depths that give off a pungent otherworldly smell. Cross out all these preconceived notions of the dead river, it looked different and greener now.

True, there were garbage plastic cups and fastfood Styrofoams and slippers and coconut husks, but they can be counted by the fingers. Non-flowering water lilies amount to majority of what floats and can be seen, unless you count the LPG barges and boats that ply the same route. The water takes the color of brownish-green to brown in some areas.

The obvious highlight of the trip is Malacañang, which unfortunately remains for the eyes only. I rummaged through my bag to look for a twenty-peso bill to compare. Unfortunately, I found none and tried to remember the picturesque view instead. In the end, all I remembered were the white calachuchis falling on the riverside garden.

Good photogenic views are the Post Office Building and the church along Hulo station. If I had those kick-ass cameras and equipment bird photographers use, I would have taken photos of the numerous white birds that glided toward the surface of the water from PUP station to Intramuros.

The stations are not much look-worthy and enticing, though. The parks along Guadalupe looked cleaner and better as compared to the unkempt ones near Intramuros. Likewise, the Intramuros station offers a view of the unpainted decaying back of the Immigration building, which was not very pleasant. The good thing, though, is that jeepneys ply in front of the station.

Sometimes, it was monotonous. I felt sleepy and thought of dozing off for a few minutes. The fact that the ferry was moving in a cradle-like state did not help fend off my drowsiness. I looked around and found other passengers, either sleeping or looking out the windows.

The trip was definitely better than being in the crowded streets of Manila.
Doing the trip was like being in the countryside with trees lining the path and people lounging along the river in the afternoons. From the river you could see churches, or tips of it, decaying factories, and some wooden houses under the bridge. It was also surprising to find numerous schools beside the river. Imagine reading El Filibusterismo and then looking out the window to see Rizal's river. It's a good thing it is cleaner now.

Once in a while, I got reminded I'm still in the capital with painted slogans of cities and municipalities on the cemented banks of the river. The ferry cruises through five cities: Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, Pasig, and Taguig. There are also numerous names and initials vandalized on almost every possible writing spot—walls under the bridge, on factory walls, banks.

Indeed, there have been efforts to revive the river. And the success can be seen in the scenes, the ferry service, the river itself, and the numerous reminders and statements like: Ilog PASIGlahin, Navy loves Pasig River Keep it clean always, Panatilihing Malinis ang Ilog Pasig, Resurrecting Ilog Pasig, and Revive the River of our Dreams.

In a sleepy weekday afternoon, locals, regardless of age and gender, would wave and deliver a toothy grin to the passing ferry boats. I waved back at a little girl before the Hulo station and she sat back at the park seat, surprised and flushed at my response.

Scents

The water does not emit a decomposed sewage-y smell from afar. Take note: from afar. Amazingly, the water smells better in the Intramuros side rather than in the Guadalupe area. When one sits on the river stairs in Guadalupe, one could smell the river emitting an unpleasant rotten smell. In Intramuros, the river smells more sea-like and salty. The only drawback is that once the breeze stops coming from Manila Bay, the pungent smell of dried urine dominates the air.

The interiors of the boat are clean and don't have the same burnt smell usually associated with buses or the smell of sweat emitted by passengers. If the river emits a gruesome smell, it stays outside. Overall, the ride was decent, olfactory wise.

Sounds

"Pwede bang maligo dyan?" I overheard one of the passengers ask another when we saw children bathing in the river. Aware that we were looking, the boys taunted and jumped to the water in a big splash. The sight made me cringe.

I would be lying if I say I heard the gentle lapping of the waters against the boat or the sound of bodies hitting the waters. The ferry was shut tight and has a temperate air-conditioning system, a relief for most first-time riders. But I did hear the sound of the engine, ours and the numerous smaller boats that ply the same route, and the reverberations made by the PNR train and LRT 3 on top of our heads.

Sometimes, a lonesome house fly would buzz within the enclosed space and passengers would content themselves with a quick slumber. Some would watch movies (Black Hawk Down with French subtitles) on the television and despite the deafening sound of guns and artilleries, the mood remained dreamy and light, not much talking, infrequent whisperings. (First time mo ba? Oo, first time ko.)

Considering it was my first trip, I chatted with Myrna, a middle-aged woman who ran some errands in Lawton. She sat beside me, cheerfully noting our location and naming the bridges we passed by. She kindly pointed out that the trip looks better at night, especially the Nagtahan Bridge in Sta. Mesa, which was famed for the changing lights along its railings.

As the ferry reaches its next stop, a ding-dong sound would erupt from the public announcement system and a voice would state the incoming station. Rubber slippers, leather shoes and flat sandals would head slowly for the door. When I reached my Guadalupe stop, I lined behind Myrna and she told me before we parted ways, "It’s less stressful to take this ride. It’s as if we’re not in Manila."

I could only nod in agreement.

venntro

February 23rd, 2009, 07:32 AM

^^ Although there are lots of things which are needed to improve it further, the Pasig River has come a long long way from its filthy state in 90's.

sdblackshade

February 23rd, 2009, 07:44 AM

of course its good enough...binay built that for the squatters...gusto mo trees pa? talagang spoiled itong mga squatters

It was built for everybody my friend.:)

barrera_marquez

February 23rd, 2009, 10:36 AM

Pasig River Ferry Service as of February 23, 2009:

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/5268/1002632vy9.th.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002632vy9.jpg)
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/545/1002631dy0.th.jpg (http://img6.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002631dy0.jpg)
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/222/1002630vn0.th.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002630vn0.jpg)
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/2324/1002629sh7.th.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002629sh7.jpg)
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/788/1002628tx0.th.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002628tx0.jpg)
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7799/1002626uo7.th.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002626uo7.jpg)
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/2748/1002625hy3.th.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002625hy3.jpg)
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/8555/1002624ov6.th.jpg (http://img18.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002624ov6.jpg)
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/8537/1002623vk0.th.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002623vk0.jpg)
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/6259/1002622em6.th.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002622em6.jpg)
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/4774/1002621jz1.th.jpg (http://img6.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002621jz1.jpg)
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/4236/1002620ka1.th.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002620ka1.jpg)
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/2006/1002618xq6.th.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002618xq6.jpg)
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8182/1002617xc3.th.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002617xc3.jpg)
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1118/1002616do3.th.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002616do3.jpg)
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/306/1002615tq3.th.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002615tq3.jpg)
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/7317/1002614rw7.th.jpg (http://img18.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002614rw7.jpg)
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/3231/1002613dp1.th.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002613dp1.jpg)
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/1681/1002612qf0.th.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002612qf0.jpg)
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/6351/1002611uj7.th.jpg (http://img6.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002611uj7.jpg)
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/9725/1002610vx1.th.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002610vx1.jpg)
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4735/1002609mh9.th.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002609mh9.jpg)
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/2888/1002608yr1.th.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002608yr1.jpg)
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/5923/1002607ek1.th.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002607ek1.jpg)
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/8710/1002606bq4.th.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002606bq4.jpg)
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/2144/1002605wk2.th.jpg (http://img18.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002605wk2.jpg)
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/4906/1002604ff9.th.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002604ff9.jpg)
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/3301/1002603mx8.th.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002603mx8.jpg)
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/2932/1002602tw4.th.jpg (http://img6.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002602tw4.jpg)
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/601/1002601hw9.th.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002601hw9.jpg)
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/7517/1002600ej3.th.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002600ej3.jpg)
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/9226/1002599qm4.th.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002599qm4.jpg)
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7926/1002598tz4.th.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002598tz4.jpg)
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/3058/1002597qe5.th.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002597qe5.jpg)
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/9158/1002596of8.th.jpg (http://img18.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002596of8.jpg)
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/4707/1002595fx8.th.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002595fx8.jpg)
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/7039/1002594ky8.th.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002594ky8.jpg)
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/2708/1002593es2.th.jpg (http://img6.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002593es2.jpg)
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/4224/1002592bv2.th.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002592bv2.jpg)
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8499/1002591ff4.th.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002591ff4.jpg)
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/4666/1002590dz2.th.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002590dz2.jpg)
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/910/1002589lp2.th.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002589lp2.jpg)
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/6799/1002587wi3.th.jpg (http://img18.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002587wi3.jpg)
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/7264/1002582dn2.th.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002582dn2.jpg)
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/3518/1002581hf4.th.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002581hf4.jpg)
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/2716/1002575im6.th.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002575im6.jpg)
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/260/1002574ts8.th.jpg (http://img6.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002574ts8.jpg)
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/8274/1002588bm7.th.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002588bm7.jpg)
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/513/1002586pm4.th.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002586pm4.jpg)
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/5527/1002583vx6.th.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002583vx6.jpg)
http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/9981/1002584au4.th.jpg (http://img6.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002584au4.jpg)
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/2281/1002585ho2.th.jpg (http://img21.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002585ho2.jpg)
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/8466/1002580um7.th.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002580um7.jpg)
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/1580/1002579es0.th.jpg (http://img17.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002579es0.jpg)
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/8517/1002578jq6.th.jpg (http://img18.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002578jq6.jpg)
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/4605/1002576ci6.th.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002576ci6.jpg)
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/4249/1002573ue3.th.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1002573ue3.jpg)

newgabskii

February 24th, 2009, 05:17 AM

^^ the waters are still choclolatey...
hope to see that river becomes blue like in bohol...

is the pasig river really class D?

I can see some people cathching fish it and they eat it!

Gross as it may seem but some people still catch food in the river. so I guess its not exactly "dead"

i wonder what those fish eat and people will eat the fish... d kaya mahospital ka nun for 1 month... :)

Arciga_01

February 24th, 2009, 08:33 AM

Actually, maganda nga na naging "choco brown" na un kulay nyan eh. Di tulad dati na talagang itim na, may amoy pa.

Hinde na ako aasa na magiging light blue uli ang tubig nyan tulad nung panahon ni rizal. Kahit nga un ilog sa london, kahit ano gawin nila eh ay kulay brown parin.

Also, Hinde naman ganyan ka toxic ang ilog pasig. Pwede naman kainin ang mga isdang nahuhuli dyan.

johnmizer

February 24th, 2009, 09:30 AM

pero it still bugs me, howcome yung ilog dun sa may san juan is coloured balck, hinde nya naapektuhan yung path ng ferry.

kalbongdad

February 24th, 2009, 09:32 AM

renell

February 24th, 2009, 03:05 PM

okay na yung kulay, pero kailangan pa i-control ang pagtatapon ng sewage sa ilog. baka kailangan din lagyan ng mga open green spaces ang Pasig, parang sa Marikina river.

i-imagine mo tataas ang presyo ng lupa sa tabi ng ilog pag tuloy ng tuloy ang kalinisan. dito sa Sydney mahal talaga ang real estate by the water

panganuron23

February 24th, 2009, 05:10 PM

Pasig River 2020. :)

http://www.labelscar.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/grand-avenue-mall-02.jpg

hay... how i wish to see Pasig River coming alive...alam nyo Metropolitan Manila will be more beautiful kung malilinis lang ang pasig River, sayang

dvbaicrviser

February 24th, 2009, 05:41 PM

c/o Palafox & Associates

http://www.palafoxoutsourcing.com/main/images/stories/gallery/urbanplanning/Pasig-River.jpg

Kaya iyan. Basta mabagsik lang ang magpapatupad sa batas, magagawang luminis ang mga ilog sa MM. :)

Isa pa, dapat i-educate ng gobyerno ang mga tao tungkol sa pagmamahal sa kapaligiran at pagkakaroon ng responsibilidad. Magandang malaman nila ang tungkol sa zero-waste management. Kung di nila magawa, hayaan nila ang mga civic groups na gumawa nito para sa kanila, basta't may sapat lang silang kapangyarihan para magawa ito.

manila_eye

February 24th, 2009, 08:20 PM

so organic fish pala ang makakain sa pasig. healthy sya kung ganun :lol:

reggiedoc

February 24th, 2009, 10:30 PM

Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig launched (http://abs-cbnnews.com/video/nation/metro-manila/02/24/09/kapit-bisig-sa-ilog-pasig-launched)
02/24/2009 3:37 PM, Mornings@ANC

The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission in partnership with the ABS-CBN Foundation launched Tuesday a seven-year project to turn the Pasig River to a clean river zone. :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

reggiedoc

February 25th, 2009, 12:15 AM

'Pasig to be revived in 7 years' (http://abs-cbnnews.com/video/nation/metro-manila/02/24/09/pasig-be-revived-7-years)
02/24/2009 10:09 PM, TV Patrol World

Nagsanib puwersa ang ABS-CBN Foundation at ibang sektor para muling buhayin ang Pasig River! Pero bukod sa paglilinis ng ilog, layon din ng proyekto na mailipat sa mas maayos na mga bahay ang mga nakatira sa tabi nito. :cheers:

reggiedoc

February 25th, 2009, 12:18 AM

'Squatters' relocation a must for Pasig River clean-up
by MARIA ALTHEA TEVES, abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak | 02/24/2009 6:31 PM

The relocation of informal settlers is key to cleaning up the Pasig River, Gina Lopez, managing director of ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. said Tuesday at the launching of the Kapit Bisig Ilog Pasig, a government-private sector effort to revive the "Nation's River."

Contrary to popular belief, 65% of the waste that flows in the Pasig River comes from households including waste dumped by informal settlers along riverbanks, not from industries or businesses.

Aside from the waste, the health and safety of the informal settlers are also at risk, Ms. Lopez said, citing an incident last year where a baby of a family illegally living on the banks of the San Juan river fell into the water which flows directly to Pasig .

Lopez said that with the help of the National Housing Authority, the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC), Habitat for Humanity and Globe Asiatique, the informal settlers will hopefully be relocated to Calauan, Laguna, where a model community has already been established.

She said the community can accommodate 10,000 settlers. She is eyeing the relocation of 1,000 by June, but it should start in March.

“Hopefully, we will get money to be able to relocate 4,000 more informal settlers,” she added.

She said the informal settlers should be relocated in sustainable communities, such as in Calauan.

Livelihood, transportation aid

Pasig City Mayor Roberto Eusebio said his government is providing livelihood assistance to 100 settlers in his area so that “relocated individuals who want to earn, could earn a little money.”

Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte said that they have relocated families to Bulacan, Montalban, and Rodriguez.

“These places are close to the city and people can continue to work in the city,” Belmonte said.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay added that “aside from livelihood, there should be transportation assistance."

"It is really a matter of transportation costs that attracts them back to settle in their former area,” he said.

If local government units (LGUs) work together, “not only will there be a physical change in Pasig River, but also a change in the people’s attitude,” Belmonte said.

“There is no use beautifying the river if the people think it is impossible,” Ms. Lopez said.

“Working together with the National Government, LGUs, NGOs, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and PRRC, mayors and congressmen is the whole point of Kapit Bisig Ilog Pasig. We are all working together as one," she said.

Waldenstrom

February 25th, 2009, 01:01 AM

^^ hay! tagal ng madumi ng ilog pasig, ngayon lang naisipan linisin ng todo. thanks anyway! goodluck.

ruralvillage

February 25th, 2009, 02:23 AM

Pasig River cleanup project launched (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=443294&publicationSubCategoryId=65)
By Mike Frialde Updated February 25, 2009 12:00 AM
Philstar.com (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=443294&publicationSubCategoryId=65)

MANILA, Philippines - The ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. (AFI) and the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) yesterday formally launched the “Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig,” a massive cleanup project that aims to rehabilitate the polluted 24-kilometer long Pasig River.

AFI managing director Regina Paz “Gina” Lopez said the project will take seven years to complete and will involve the support of not only the private sector and local government units but also the media as well.

“No matter how much money you spend to clean the river, the river is 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 at the project’s launching at the Makati Park and Garden in Guadalupe.

Mayors Feliciano Belmonte Jr. of Quezon City, Alfredo Lim of Manila, JV Ejercito of San Juan, Marides Fernando of Marikina, Jejomar Binay of Makati, Ben Hur Abalos of Mandaluyong, Sigfrido Tiñga of Taguig, and Vicente Eusebio of Pasig pledged their support for the project.

Others who also vowed to help were the Manila Water Co., Maynilad Water Services Inc., the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, ABS-CBN, Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Lito Atienza.

Goldilocks Bakeshop donated P6 million, while Vice President Noli de Castro promised the support of the National Housing Authority in his capacity as the chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council.

“Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig” is a product of a memorandum of agreement between AFI and DENR, through PRRC, which makes the AFI-Bantay Kalikasan and the DENR co-managers of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Project.

The project aims to achieve a zero toxic input into the Pasig River, including its tributaries, esteros, and creeks leading to it. The project also aims to raise at least P700 million to acquire the technology and meet operational expenses to clean the river within seven years.

Under the project, focus is on the cleanup of an initial 10 esteros that flow towards the four major tributaries in San Juan, Marikina, Taguig-Pateros and Napindan. There are 47 major and minor tributaries in the metropolis, for which the Pasig River serves as the catch basin.

Under the project, the PRRC, AFI and their partner organizations aim to revive the polluted Pasig River through the creation of “clean river zones,” where the discharge of toxic waste will be lessened or stopped with the use of community-based facilities for the treatment of solid and water wastes.

Lopez added that the project aims to treat water flowing into the Pasig River with the use of catchments and filtration systems and bioremediation. Bioremediation is the process that uses microorganisms, fungi, green plants or their enzymes to return the natural environment altered by contaminants to its original condition.

The project has begun the first phase of its seven-year program, which focuses on the relocation of informal settlers living on the banks of the Pasig River and contribute heavily to the river’s pollution.

A study by the PRRC shows that 60 percent of the garbage dumped in Pasig River comes from households and 35 percent from industries.

Under the “Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig” about 1,100 informal settlers living along the Pasig River will be relocated to a resettlement site in Calauan, Laguna by June. In the relocation site, the informal settlers will be provided by private sponsors with housing, education and health facilities and livelihood assistance.

The project also aims to relocate 4,040 informal settlers from Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Tondo, Manila, Makati-Guadalupe Viejo, Pasig, and Taguig.

ABS-CBN chairman and chief executive officer Eugenio Lopez III added that ABS-CBN will be heavily contributing to the success of the project.

“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 said.

According to Lopez, the Philippines is the only country in Southeast Asia which has not yet cleaned up its major rivers, such as the Pasig.

“All the other Asian countries have solved their problems regarding the rivers that run through them,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gina Lopez called on the private sector, the military and the national government to lend their support to the project.

“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 is not your toilet bowl, it is your life,” she said.

venntro

February 25th, 2009, 03:25 AM

100,000 informal river settlers to be cleared (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=443153&publicationSubCategoryId=200)
By Dennis Carcamo Updated February 24, 2009 02:29 PM

MANILA, Philippines--More than 100,000 families living along the Pasig river system will be cleared within the next seven years in a bid to rehabilitate the dying body of water, an official of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) said today.

PRRC head Deogracias Tablan said their partner in the cleanup, Bantay Kalikasan, hopes to revive the Pasig river with the efforts of relocating these families as soon as possible.

Although they would be undertaking a herculian task of cleaning the river and keeping it that way, Tablan said the project would be successful also with the help of the community and the private sector.

"The project will depend on the response of the community," Tablan said in an interview during the launching of the Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig project, spearheaded by Bantay Kalikasan Inc.

The cleanup will involve 44 esteros and four river systems, including Marikina river and Napindan channel, leading to Pasig river.

At present, the PRRC is working in the cleanup of three esteros, Tablan said.

He added that though there is also a problem of factories spewing chemicals into the river, domestic waste is the primary source of pollution , accounting for 65 percent of the pollutants in Pasig river.

Tablan also cited that they need to filter the domestic waste coming from households with the use of aeration, which uses oxygen to induce the production of good bacteria in canals, and bioremediation, a process of using biological plants to remove or neutralize contaminants in the soil or water.

PRRC estimtates that they have to clean Pasig river of 2.8 million cubic meters of toxic debris.

Bantay Kalikasan head Gina Lopez said another important component of cleaning up the Pasig river is the change of consciousness of the community.

"People see the riveras a toilet bowl. Pasig river is life and you don't urinate on your life," Lopez said during her speech of the launching of the Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig project and turn-over ceremony of the materials recovery facilities (MRFs) at the Makati Park in Makati City today.

venntro

February 25th, 2009, 03:28 AM

Govt, private sector to clean up Pasig River system (http://http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=443150&publicationSubCategoryId=200)
By Dennis Carcamo Updated February 24, 2009 01:21 PM

MANILA, Philippines--A private sector foundation in partnership with the national and local governments today launched an ambitious undertaking of cleaning up and reviving the Pasig River system.

During the launching of the Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig, a project to rehabilitate the moribund 17-kilometer river system, the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Bantay Kalikasan teamed up with the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, which includes agencies like the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Metro Manila Development Authority, National Housing Authority and the Laguna Lake Development Authority, to revive the Pasig river.

Local officials from Quezon City, Makati, Marikina, Mandaluyong, Taguig, Manila, and Pasig also expressed their willingness to support the project.

Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo pledged to give to the project P6 million spread in the next three years while Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte has initially given P2 million for the purchase of equipment for the materials recovery facilities (MRFs).

Pasig river is life. We have to revive it again,&quot; Belmonte said, referring to the olden times that the then clean river had been the main means of transportation.

Bantay Kalikasan head Gina Lopez signed several memorandum of agreement with the government agencies during the formal launching of the project. All the stakeholders also signed a commitment message

Lopez said she foresees the clean up project to&nbsp; gain ground , with results of a cleaner Pasig river in the next seven years.

Bantay Kalikasan, she added, will update its partners every six months on the progressof the clean up campaign.

For his part, Eugenio Lopez III, chairman and chief executive officer of ABS-CBN, the biggest media conglomerate in the country, said they are hoping to apply the La Mesa Watershed experience to Pasig river clean up as Bantay Kalikasan has been successeful in rehabilitating the watershed in the past years.

The ABS-CBN top boss lamented that the Philippines has been plagued with the problem of cleaning up the historic river in the past.

He said he hopes that project to ultimately address this problem as many countries in the Southeast Asian region, such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, has already solved theirs.

filcan

February 25th, 2009, 04:08 AM

wonderful news :D

RonnieR

February 25th, 2009, 06:15 AM

Very positive news....100,000 informal settlers, that's a lot....good move to get rid these squatters in metropolis.

venntro

February 25th, 2009, 07:32 AM

^^ Let's hope we see a more vibrant, more green, more eco-friendly, more modern Pasig River which we can be proud of.

newgabskii

February 25th, 2009, 12:32 PM

^^

cge magsimula na tayong maglinis bukas ng ilog pasig ha

lalanguyin ko lg ang vienna at manila. hintayin niyo lang ako ha

ang sasama sakin ililibre ko ng caviar... :)

philip_v

February 25th, 2009, 12:43 PM

They'll transfer the informal settlers within 7 years? I couldn't wait. Their transfer should be the priority of the government.

sick_n_tired

February 25th, 2009, 05:35 PM

sinubukan ko sumakay sa pasig river ferry from hulo(mandaluyong) to Intramuros... t'was not that bad, medyo madami lang sumisigaw from the river banks, they are trying to get the attention of the passengers. But generally, nagenjoy ako sa views :D

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3409/3309315448_b366bfa9f4.jpg?v=0

manila_eye

February 25th, 2009, 05:40 PM

^^ just love the philippine postal building that was designed by the late don thomas mapua. kaso lumulubog na sya.

FlashCollider

February 26th, 2009, 02:26 AM

venntro

February 26th, 2009, 03:20 AM

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3409/3309315448_b366bfa9f4.jpg?v=0

^^ Nice angle. Pasig river has lots of potential in terms of tourism.

sick_n_tired

February 26th, 2009, 06:02 AM

^^ just love the philippine postal building that was designed by the late don thomas mapua. kaso lumulubog na sya.

lumulubog talaga? pansin ko nga parang below water level na ung floor line ng building

Galing ng kuha, parang lumulubog ang Post Office. Really nice shot.

^^ Nice angle. Pasig river has lots of potential in terms of tourism.

Thanks... maganda ang landscapes both manmade and natural along pasig river, kaya lang napabayaan...

ill post more photos when i got home.

Arciga_01

February 26th, 2009, 07:50 AM

Lumulubog un Postal Building? Waah, Sayang naman kung bigla nalang nawala ito :ohno:

venntro

February 26th, 2009, 07:53 AM

Lumulubog un Postal Building? Waah, Sayang naman kung bigla nalang nawala ito :ohno:

^^ If this is true then authorities should be doing something already to address the problem. Sayang naman since this is practically a national treasure.

newgabskii

February 26th, 2009, 01:59 PM

sick_n_tired

February 26th, 2009, 04:59 PM

Escolta
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3610/3311775678_cd0af0c1e5.jpg?v=0

leechtat

February 26th, 2009, 06:39 PM

^^ i hope they clean it up... its so beautiful... its sad..

venntro

February 27th, 2009, 02:42 AM

Escolta
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3610/3311775678_cd0af0c1e5.jpg?v=0

^^ Those buildings need some fresh paint or better yet, some renovation but retaining the design to make that area more attractive.

sick_n_tired

February 27th, 2009, 04:23 PM

^^wag naman sana demolition ang gawin nila :ohno:

manila_eye

February 27th, 2009, 08:38 PM

lumulubog talaga? pansin ko nga parang below water level na ung floor line ng building

Lumulubog un Postal Building? Waah, Sayang naman kung bigla nalang nawala ito :ohno:

Yup... few centimeters every year. Malambot ang lupa sa kinatitirikan nya.

Arciga_01

February 27th, 2009, 09:25 PM

Thinking about it, buong maynila ay lumubog. Diba dating marsh land ang maynila? Kaya malaki talaga ang chance na lumubog ito..

Reclaiming and destroying the old esteros just make the sinking faster...

ruralvillage

February 28th, 2009, 07:40 PM

Atienza intensifies river cleanup (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=politics3_feb28_2009)
Manila Standard (http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=politics3_feb28_2009)

Environment Secretary Lito Atienza said that the rehabilitation of the Pasig River has been intensified with the completion of major activities in the river cleanup.

Atienza said that so far, a total of 7,758 households have been relocated, representing 77.8 percent of the target 10,000 households, in six relocation sites.

These relocation sites include one each in Montalban, Rizal; Taguig City; Trece Martires in Cavite, two in General Trias, also in Cavite; and another one in San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal.

“All resettlement sites established by the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission include a full range of community amenities, including schools, health centers, multi-purpose halls, day-care centers, livelihood opportunities and recreation facilities,” Atienza said.

Atienza, who heads the Pasig commission that was created in January 1999, said the river’s rehabilitation has two major components: water-based in the areas of dredging, estero cleanup, phytoremediation, bio-remediation, aeration and filtration; and land-based in the areas of setting materials recovery facilities, relocation of informal settlers along the riverbanks, linear park development and public advocacy.

Following the relocation of informal settlers, Atienza said both sides of the river were transformed into environmental preservation areas. This, he said, involved the development of linear parks, walkways and greenbelts.

“As of date, we have overshot our target for EPA development of 23 km by .4 km as of year-end, and at least 2.4 km more in progress,” Atienza said.

On the Pasig River ferry service which the Pasig commission started in 2007, Atienza said there are now 10 main and four satellite ferry stations. “The air-conditioned ferry service has been providing the commuting public with a reliable, safe and efficient transport system, while serving as alternative transport corridor to decongest road traffic in Metro Manila.”

Last year, Atienza said, the commission also forged a partnership with other government agencies in conducting a baseline study of the sediment quality in 13 key tributaries of Pasig river. The data that will be generated from the study, said Atienza, will be used as benchmark for gauging current efforts as well as basis for future activities.

Atienza said the conduct of water quality monitoring activities is being pursued on a regular basis in five strategic areas along the river, including the cleaning of esteros to reduce the effluents that flow into the main river line. Othel V. Campos

majaba

March 1st, 2009, 11:07 AM

Escolta
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3610/3311775678_cd0af0c1e5.jpg?v=0

suggestion :
renovate the buildings (natural heritage), repaint them white, implement a boardwalk along the pasig river (could be a hang-over structure built into the riverbanks) and plant those beautiful palmtrees found fronting mall of asia all along the riverbanks with recreational facilities, lots of greenery for strollers and office workers daily retreat. that would change the face and life quality of escolta completely !

Arciga_01

March 1st, 2009, 12:06 PM

Agreed completely! In short, Do what BF did to Marikina River!

crappypants

March 2nd, 2009, 12:14 AM

great news sana tuloy tuloy na paglinis ng pasig, napakaganda ng ilog pag malinis at naalagaan.

venntro

March 2nd, 2009, 02:33 AM

They should also enhance the beauty of the banks of the river like provide for easements for parks and even sculptures to make it world class.

kalbongdad

March 2nd, 2009, 05:24 PM

all of the things you have mentioned have already been done.....although it will take years to do it.....yung mga linear parks na ginawa during atienza's time...hindi na namaintain ni lim.....what a waste....yung dun sa may monumento ng mexican president at sa tapat na bank on the binondo side...madumi na din at wala ng mga ilaw...... :bash: i believe in atienza dahil action man din sya kagaya ni bayani.....

Arciga_01

March 2nd, 2009, 09:16 PM

Lim should be shot IMO, Malilimutin na si lolo Lim. Hinde na dapat sya tumakbo sa Maynila uli o kahit saan pa man...Gawin nalang syang driver ni erap, dahil, mahilig naman syang sumama kay erap eh..

venntro

March 3rd, 2009, 02:00 AM

^^ I watched yesterday's ANC show of Korina and she interviewed Gina Lopez on her pet project re: Buhayin ang Pasig. From the looks of it, with media on her side, Gina Lopez may well be the saviour of the River. Very good team right now with Atienza as the current DENR Secretary, Lopez as the head of the foundation, BF as the head of the MMDA and Maynilad and Manila Water doing their share.

IndioBravo

March 3rd, 2009, 02:46 AM

got high hopes on this one.

venntro

March 3rd, 2009, 04:55 AM

^^ We also have to do our share to revive the river.

r93k401

March 3rd, 2009, 05:25 AM

^^ We also have to do our share to revive the river.

we can start by riding, patronizing the pasig ferry. :)

Arciga_01

March 3rd, 2009, 09:52 AM

At wag dumura while we're on the ferry :D

manila_eye

March 3rd, 2009, 07:43 PM

we had "piso para sa pasig" before... it somehow made pasig cleaner from its dark water.

Arciga_01

March 3rd, 2009, 09:17 PM

Don't forget the "Anak ng Pasig" song that came with that project :D

From my observation, natututo narin ang pinoy sa pag alaga sa kalikasan. Dahil hinde na bumalik un black water ng pasig river after the 90's at kaunti narin un U.F.O's (Unknown Floating Objects) sa ilog :D ...

kuyageezer

March 3rd, 2009, 10:22 PM

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/5526/jonesbridgeinthemidfift.jpg

This is an unretouched photo of Pasig river in the 50's. Even in the early sixties in still kinda looked like this..bluish/green..

barrera_marquez

March 4th, 2009, 12:13 AM

filcan

March 4th, 2009, 02:18 AM

Does anyone know when Pasig was at its worst?...better yet post pictures please! :)

venntro

March 4th, 2009, 02:38 AM

Does anyone know when Pasig was at its worst?...better yet post pictures please! :)

^^ It was at its worst in the 80's.

Arciga_01

March 4th, 2009, 02:42 AM

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/5526/jonesbridgeinthemidfift.jpg

This is an unretouched photo of Pasig river in the 50's. Even in the early sixties in still kinda looked like this..bluish/green..

Here's the colour corrected picture:
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/2876/pasig.jpg

The water's colour seems to be the water's colour we have currently but with a little hint of blue

Kaunting tiis nalang, Maibabalik natin yang kulay na yan :D

venntro

March 4th, 2009, 04:45 AM

Here's the colour corrected picture:
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/2876/pasig.jpg

The water's colour seems to be the water's colour we have currently but with a little hint of blue

Kaunting tiis nalang, Maibabalik natin yang kulay na yan :D

^^ Looks clean.

aranetacoliseum

March 4th, 2009, 08:39 AM

TXT "GIVE ILOG"

send to:

2366 globe, 231 smart

venntro

March 4th, 2009, 09:44 AM

TXT "GIVE ILOG"

send to:

2366 globe, 231 smart

^^ I already texted. I remember that being plugged in Korina's ANC show and it was Gina Lopez herself who gave those numbers. This is pretty exciting that we may see a revived Pasig River during our lifetime.

manila_eye

March 4th, 2009, 06:04 PM

it started to get polluted during the 70's because of industries along it's banks. then the squatters came it got worse. we still need to do lots work.

venntro

March 6th, 2009, 01:33 AM

^^ With the indefatigable Gina Lopez at the helm, the movement to revive Pasig River is in very good hands.

renell

March 6th, 2009, 01:47 AM

we had "piso para sa pasig" before... it somehow made pasig cleaner from its dark water.

I've always had the impression Filipinos are stingy, yet with that donation drive that went on for years I was impressed how powerful the movement to clean the Pasig became.

Someone here mentioned industries making Pasig more dirty. I agree with Manila_eye in that statement, whilst squatters are aesthetically more undesirable it's the big companies who can make the bigger mess. Of course being a major tributary it shouldn't be just the Pasig River that should be cleaned up, it should also be Laguna de Bay, Marikina and San Juan Rivers, among some.

chris_nigel

March 6th, 2009, 02:50 AM

sisimulan ko sa d pagtatpon ng basura sa ilog ..hehehe

flip2_0

March 6th, 2009, 11:43 AM

sisimulan ko sa d pagtatpon ng basura sa ilog d2 sa amin..hehehe

Bakit ngayon mo lang sisimulan?

Tsk tsk :ohno::ohno:

mhek

March 6th, 2009, 07:39 PM

^ buti nga sisimulan na eh,

chris_nigel

March 7th, 2009, 04:24 AM

message ko lang yun kung pano ang magagawa mong share kahit d ka magpunta sa ilog pasig o magtext..

habagatcentral1

March 10th, 2009, 02:35 AM

Rockwell-BelAir Makati Skyline viewed from Pasig River

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/9/PasigRiver09.jpg?et=ZrFeqVVlkbP0mGl3Fv%2BIdg&nmid=217173401

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/3/photos/350/600x600/11/PasigRiver11.jpg?et=yy7OW3dZzteGW1IpRIwajw&nmid=217173401

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/13/PasigRiver13.jpg?et=Uao5vVm%2CZH3ptzmGc%2Cr1CQ&nmid=217173401

Rockwell Skyline, Makati
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/18/PasigRiver18.jpg?et=2ofXbNZgXT1PkcjnQhVnZw&nmid=217173401

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/20/PasigRiver20.jpg?et=gPNP5TUBJulXUmgpymvlXw&nmid=217173401

Palasyo ni Obinay, hehe! :D (Makati City Hall)
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/21/PasigRiver21.jpg?et=W%2BsfDCNshzmmv%2BYWyW2yxw&nmid=217173401

Guadalupe Ferry Station
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/5/PasigRiver05.jpg?et=ZdqGrmWt1r7iJjZanC%2BwDw&nmid=217173401

habagatcentral1

March 10th, 2009, 02:38 AM

Cybergate
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/1/PasigRiver01.jpg?et=yT3rHrFYq6Njx6Dl%2CIQsyQ&nmid=217173401

Guadalupe Bridge
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/2/PasigRiver02.jpg?et=59yVyHLN1ArNXmb5wYsYQg&nmid=217173401

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/6/PasigRiver06.jpg?et=a%2BZ6JDVrgt9rfArZaE%2Czkg&nmid=217173401

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/14/PasigRiver14.jpg?et=G6ZCBbCBxXf6e2KvfnXR3A&nmid=217173401

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/15/PasigRiver15.jpg?et=FxF0nj%2BgoBwp0CWXa8fO6A&nmid=217173401

River Crossing near Makati-Mandaluyong Bridge
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/19/PasigRiver19.jpg?et=le%2Ba19oSBm%2BUjj6nxkV5%2BQ&nmid=217173401

Tivoli Garden
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/22/PasigRiver22.jpg?et=umrKUn1M86%2CrY7uTd%2BfsWw&nmid=217173401

Contrast
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/23/PasigRiver23.jpg?et=Ek3BCArQWQKeRnh7boqmjQ&nmid=217173401

habagatcentral1

March 10th, 2009, 02:39 AM

Unfortunately, no Malacañang Pix....Paranoid si Gloria! :bash::nuts::lol::lol:

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/55/PasigRiver55.jpg?et=kXrST47xfvumuVeQI27S%2CA&nmid=217173401

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/52/PasigRiver52.jpg?et=HzfhC7ADtTmLSKuqf9JXXQ&nmid=217173401

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/51/PasigRiver51.jpg?et=6j0stk4HK44iiks%2BZudLwQ&nmid=217173401

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/50/PasigRiver50.jpg?et=x3mFj%2CdtpOgOzKvSHmAF2A&nmid=217173401

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/48/PasigRiver48.jpg?et=FNSax3ncer8gfRYGf3raiQ&nmid=217173401

Jaime Cardinal Sin Relocation Site
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/46/PasigRiver46.jpg?et=vr1IrGSURiD9CbFHItIxmg&nmid=217173401

In Santa Ana Area
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/43/PasigRiver43.jpg?et=n8advmxQk%2Bkctavb6ZntoQ&nmid=217173401

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/41/PasigRiver41.jpg?et=%2C5GylCdSuF25OgU%2CTSpnjw&nmid=217173401

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/37/PasigRiver37.jpg?et=STQQ%2Bu1VLvlf%2BhL6FwUpAg&nmid=217173401

Colonia
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/36/PasigRiver36.jpg?et=7%2CFDsqeeCa05mgZdzRO6Uw&nmid=217173401

Paging Al Gore...:D
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/32/PasigRiver32.jpg?et=y2d%2BOFZqna%2CMlm98iyukHw&nmid=217173401

Condo near Lambingan Station
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/27/PasigRiver27.jpg?et=X0Vghw3RONy%2CsAJLuQxBqw&nmid=217173401

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/24/PasigRiver24.jpg?et=R4zIHspKh9XF4POZVwGhww&nmid=217173401

filcan

March 10th, 2009, 03:39 AM

[B]Rockwell Skyline, Makati
http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/18/PasigRiver18.jpg?et=2ofXbNZgXT1PkcjnQhVnZw&nmid=217173401

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/20/PasigRiver20.jpg?et=gPNP5TUBJulXUmgpymvlXw&nmid=217173401

http://images.habagatcentral.multiply.com/image/1/photos/350/600x600/24/PasigRiver24.jpg?et=R4zIHspKh9XF4POZVwGhww&nmid=217173401

^^So much positive messages for the Pasig pero walang nakikinig :ohno:

venntro

March 10th, 2009, 04:12 AM

^^So much positive messages for the Pasig pero walang nakikinig :ohno:

^^ Meron naman. Gina Lopez for one is doing an ambitious project to revive the river.

filcan

March 10th, 2009, 05:06 AM

^^one is not enough;)

RonnieR

March 10th, 2009, 06:10 AM

habagatcentral1

March 10th, 2009, 06:19 AM

Wow, nice shots....you must be outside the ferry....cool.

Yup...You're allowed to be at the observation area...until Pureza-PUP Station where the staff and some security personnel will have to request you to get in all the way to Quiapo...No cameras nor camphones! Paranoid nga si Gloria! Buti pa'ng White House at Buckingham Palace pwedeng piktyuran!

The Pasig River Ferry could be a good tourist drawer if they could encourage a more "tourist-friendly" policy. Malacañang is a major landmark along the river and PSG wouldn't allow people to take a picture of the facade. Security? Geez!

According to a friend of mine, looks like Philippines and Manila is not tourist-friendly and photographer-friendly.

johnmizer

March 10th, 2009, 07:26 AM

ill drink to that!, we want a night shot pic of malakanyang, its not her own huose naman, hell gloria could sleep well at anight knowing that i dont have any intention of peekign at her room

kalbongdad

March 10th, 2009, 09:13 AM

malaking disappointment nga yun ..... anyway the river has improved a lot....ngayon na lang yan sa panahon ni bf.....dahil totohanan na ang paggawa hindi lang lip service....tingnan nyo dyan sa may malacanang meron pang ginawang mga isda na sculpture ang mmda nakakatuwa....it says a lot about the esteros being revived by the mmda....

xandro

March 13th, 2009, 05:06 AM

Pasig River clean-up pushed
Updated March 13, 2009 12:00 AM
source: philstar.com (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=448001&publicationSubCategoryId=76)

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/7127/re4.jpg

MANILA, Philippines - Writers, poets, musicians and even the man destiny declared to be National Hero fell for the muse named Pasig. A century later, men still stumbled upon each other for her charms — but this time, to reclaim the beauty she has lost.

“Pasig River is a story of a once beautiful woman whose beauty fades day by day,” says Joseph Ang , Worldbex founding chairman. “And the most tragic thing about it? No one dared to look at her and acknowledge the mockery she has become.”

But there’s hope yet for the muse named Pasig through an initiative called Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig, a project that aims to rehabilitate the moribund 17-kilometer river system. It top-bills a partnership between the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Bantay Kalikasan, the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC), LGU’s and the private sector. Among the strongest supporters of Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig is Worldbex Services International.

In support of the Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig initiative, Worldbex Services International, donated a substantial amount to the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Bantay Kalikasan project Meanwhile, Architect Felino Palafox Jr., of the Pasig Rehabilitation Commission will discuss the milestones of the said project in the Worldbex Seminars which will be held from March 19-20 at the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC ).

For more info you can contact Worldbex Services Inc. at (632) 534 3615; 531 6350 or email at info@worldbex.com or log on to www.worldbex.com

johnmizer

March 13th, 2009, 06:41 AM

yNG PIC NA YAN, DUN YUN SA MY ayala bride diba, yung yun isla de ....

RonnieR

March 13th, 2009, 06:45 AM

richard24

March 13th, 2009, 07:17 AM

ganda ng plans., kaso the san juan river naman on the other hand is getting dirtier by the minute.,

kalbongdad

March 13th, 2009, 07:28 AM

yung pic ba...ano ang source nun......parang 1900 pa ata yun....

Animo

March 13th, 2009, 08:37 AM

yNG PIC NA YAN, DUN YUN SA MY ayala bride diba, yung yun isla de ....

Isla de Convalescencia

sick_n_tired

March 13th, 2009, 06:26 PM

pasig river ferry ride sceneries

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3537/3346281703_4f1c166f54.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3551/3346295849_2d108dd447.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3655/3346264801_8fb1c4a653.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3552/3347031972_69e5046744.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3569/3346178191_2a128ecf6e.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3364/3347023772_d072139c1e.jpg?v=0

Asturiano

March 13th, 2009, 10:18 PM

sana madevelop yong mga lupang warehouses diyan sa gilid ng Pasig para gumanda yong tanawin.

renell

March 14th, 2009, 06:30 AM

Isla de Convalescencia

I've seen that place in various maps of the town. Do you know what was in there during colonial times, and what exists there now?

Regarding those warehouses... they look abandoned. It might be another decade until developers even consider putting up high scale apartments there. Though with the developing ferry system I think it's a good opportunity to buy out those lots.

sick_n_tired

March 14th, 2009, 08:06 AM

I've seen that place in various maps of the town. Do you know what was in there during colonial times, and what exists there now?

source (http://www.rcam.org/ministry/socialservices/hospicio.htm)

HOSPICIO DE SAN JOSE

Hospicio de San Jose is a Catholic Welfare institution and a home of orphans, abandoned and special children and elderly people.

The establishment of Hospicio de San Jose was made possible y the charitable legacy of Don Francisco Gomez Enriquez and his wife Do��span> Barbara Versoza.? In gratitude for having been cured of a fever, Don Francisco donated four thousand pesos (P4,000) in 1778 for the establishment? of a ?Hospicio General? for the poor of Manila.? It was said that several others followed the first sum during the couple?s lifetime.? Unfortunately, they did not live long enough to see the actual foundation of this home they envisioned to take care of the city?s poor and unwanted children.

The initial purpose of the establishment of the institution was mainly to respond to the urgent need of the indigent clientele and the mentally/physically handicapped people during those times.? Since its foundation in October 1778, Hospicio de San Jose has continued to meet the needs of the indigent people including the physically handicapped and the elderly people.

The institution was first known as ?Hospicio General? and was later changed to its present name ?Hospicio de San Jose?.? The newly established welfare institution was then named after St. Joseph, its present saint.? Hospicio de San Jose was formerly located at Pandacan, and then transferred to Intramuros, then to Binondo, Nagtahan and Echague.? It was only 1810 when Hospicio de San found its permanent home at the ?Isla de Convalescencia? or the Island of Convalescents.

On December 27, 1810, a Board of Directors governed Hospicio ded san Jose through a Royal Decree, under the chairmanship of the Archbishop of Manila.? The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul came to Hospicio de San Jose only on June 1, 1866 as the administrators and were entirely responsible for the whole operation of the institution.? One of Manila?s prominent ladies, Do��argarita Rojas who was also one of its benefactors suggested to the Governor General to invite the good sisters of Charity to come to the Philippines to take care of the island?s poor, sick, handicapped and abandoned.

It is important to note that Hospicio de San Jose is the first Social Welfare Agency in the Philippines.? It had pioneered the helping of the poor, sick, the handicapped, the abandoned, the elderly and for a brief period even the mentally and psychologically sick as well as the delinquent youths of the city.? Hospicio de san Jose in its beginnings has made ea commitment to maintain and improve on the early curriculum offered to its clientele.? The curriculum encompasses the Christian, social and work oriented formation program.

Today, Hospicio de San Jose continues to respond to the challenges of society.? It has instituted a holistic approach in responding to the needs of its clientele such as the indigent and physically handicapped people by giving them formal education, as well as health and spiritual programs which are being offered by the institution.? Challenged by the realities of the communities around the vicinity of the institution, an outreach program has been initiated.? This outreach program was organized to serve the needs of the elderly people in the slum areas of Quiapo and San Miguel.

r93k401

March 14th, 2009, 11:54 AM

sana madevelop yong mga lupang warehouses diyan sa gilid ng Pasig para gumanda yong tanawin.

baka eto yung sinasabi mo. kuha ko nung nakaraang taon...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3032/2433161811_d6c80ffc83_o.jpg

icarusrising

March 14th, 2009, 02:38 PM

^^ Is that in Punta, Santa Ana?

barrera_marquez

March 14th, 2009, 03:44 PM

baka eto yung sinasabi mo. kuha ko nung nakaraang taon...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3032/2433161811_d6c80ffc83_o.jpg

Wala na iyang warehouse na iyan... dinemolish na siya...

RonnieR

March 15th, 2009, 05:48 PM

ganda ng plans., kaso the san juan river naman on the other hand is getting dirtier by the minute.,

Just curious, how long ba tong San Juan river?

habagatcentral1

March 16th, 2009, 08:12 PM

Just curious, how long ba tong San Juan river?

Lets just say, it runs all the way to Quezon City. One of its headwaters is the lagoon of UP Diliman and that creek between Ateneo and Miriam...

johnmizer

March 17th, 2009, 06:08 AM

that whole stetch is coloured black?

RonnieR

March 17th, 2009, 06:28 AM

Lets just say, it runs all the way to Quezon City. One of its headwaters is the lagoon of UP Diliman and that creek between Ateneo and Miriam...

cool info...:)

Arciga_01

March 17th, 2009, 08:12 AM

Also, San Juan River is 70 to 80% composed of creeks that are slowly getting swallowed by urban development and squatters in and around Quezon City.

barrera_marquez

March 17th, 2009, 02:59 PM

that whole stetch is coloured black?

Yes

Arciga_01

March 18th, 2009, 02:36 AM

Don't forget, Pati Taguig at Pateros River ay colour black din un tubig :puke:

reggiedoc

March 18th, 2009, 04:28 AM

Reviving, Restoring Pasig River
Friday, 06 March 2009 17:26 Momar G. Visaya/AJPress

MAKATI CITY—Gina Lopez has embarked on yet another gargantuan task, that of cleaning the Pasig River and restoring it to its old glory.

On February 24, at a grand media launch held at the Makati Park and Garden, Lopez led a multi-sector group to launch “Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig” – a massive clean-up and rehabilitation campaign to rescue the ailing Pasig River. The project is led by the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. (AFI) and the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC), under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Lopez, the Managing Director of AFI, 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, culture and origin as a people.”

Mayors Alfredo Lim of Manila, JV Ejercito of San Juan, Mercedes Fernando of Marikina, Jejomar Binay of Makati, Benhur Abalos of Mandaluyong, Freddie Tinga of Taguig, Vicente Eusebio of Pasig and Sonny Belmonte of Quezon City have all agreed to work together for this project.

“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.
Sec. Lito Atienza of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) lauded Lopez and her group for their commitment to the project.

“We will not progress as a nation if we do not put the revival of Pasig River on top of our priorities. We are now on the road to addressing this issue head-on and I am happy that Gina volunteered to do this,” Sec. Atienza said.

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.

Vice President Noli De Castro 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.

The group will also be working with local government units, the Manila Water Co., Maynilad Water Services Inc., and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III, ABS-CBN chair and chief executive officer has tendered the network’s full involvement in the campaign.

“If you look at all the great metropolitan cities in the world, you will see that they are built beside rivers, and if we want Manila to be great again, then we should start by restoring Pasig River to its old glory,” Lopez said.

Gina Lopez, through AFI’s projects such as Bantay Bata and Bantay Kalikasan, has been successful in generating support from various sectors. Bantay Bata, for the past ten years, has been instrumental in helping abused children, while Bantay Kalikasan has been successful in the past years rehabilitating the La Mesa Watershed, enhancing and conserving the ecotourism sites of Puerto Princesa.

Seven Years

“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 27-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 country, 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 added.

Multi-sector Support

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 aquatic life.

Prior to the launch, the corporate sector has already heeded the call led by Goldilocks, which donated P6 million, and Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corp. The builder of the famous “Pinoy Big Brother” house agreed to build 800 houses in the Calauan resettlement site, including a sports field where kids can play.

ABS-CBN’s Gabby Lopez is hopeful that Manila, like its neighbors in Bangkok, Taiwan and Jakarta, can solve the problem. “Let’s join hands and show that we are proud to be Filipinos, and this is what it is all about,” he said.

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

“Marami ang nagdadasal para sa proyektong ito, isa na po ako,” (“A lot of people are praying for this project, I am one one them”) said Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, adding that it was actually a good thing that someone from the private sector was leading the group.

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. echoed Binay’s sentiments, saying that if this were all government, there would be one-upmanship among the local officials.

“I’m glad that Gina took up the cudgels. I knew something would happen, when I learned that Gina would be leading this. If this river were to come to life once more, may we be in a position to say, ‘Dahil sa amin ‘yan’,” Belmonte said.

“The problem is huge, but it can be solved. With everyone’s help, we can accomplish this,” an undaunted Gina Lopez said. “We are giving ourselves seven years to clean the river. We will make dreams come true.”

Lopez looks forward to the day when she can say how sincere, untiring commitment and well-meaning, strong partnerships will bring the once glorious river back to life.

[To help, please send your check donations and indicate “Pasig” to our office at

ABS CBN Foundation, Inc. - USA

150 Shoreline Drive

Redwood City, CA 94065 USA

Toll-Free: (800) 527-2820

Phone: (650) 508-6119

E-mail: foundation@abs-cbni.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website: www.abscbnfoundation.orgor donate online via paypal or credit card through www.abscbnfoundation.org]

(www.asianjournal.com)

(Published Northern California March 6, 2009 p.SF8)