ENSC 2212 -Environmental Engineering

Pasig River
 History

Etymology

The city's name Pasig was believed to have come from the old Sanskrit word "pasega", meaning
"sand" (similar to Malay pasir), which refers to the tribal community beside the sandy edges of
the river. Some historians believed that El Pasig came from "Legazpi" (Miguel Lopez de Legazpi,
the Basque explorer well known for being involved in the "Sanduguan", and was the first
Governor-General of the Spanish East Indies.[citation needed]

It was pronounced "mapaksik" by the Pre-Hispanic Chinese inhabitants of Binondo, Manila

("Mabagsik" is Tagalog for "terrifying" – depicting the river's raging current during the typhoon
season, causing massive floods on nearby towns and villages, destroying wide hectares of
farmland, and even bringing huge amounts of logs and water lilies from Marikina River, Laguna
de Bay, and San Juan River towards Colonial Manila). "Mapaksik" later became "Pah-sik", and
was then changed to what is now "Pasig". It may have also come from the Tagalog word
"dalampasigan", which means "riverbank".

According to Jose Villa Panganiban, the former director of the Institute of National Language,
"Pasig" is another ancient Sanskrit word meaning "a waterway coming from one body of water
to another," which briefly describes the river because its flow starts from Laguna de Bay, leading
to Manila Bay

Pre-Spanish Era

It is along the banks of this river that the early kingdoms of Namayan, Maynila, and Tondo were
established. In fact, the term Tagalog, which is used to refer to the natives of the island of
Luzon, comes from the term taga-ilog, meaning “of the river” – referring, of course, to the swift
and mighty waters of the Pasig.

It was the main waterway in which our ancestors used to travel to Manila and its neighboring
provinces. It was the center of life in the capital. The Pasig River was teeming with all sorts of
wildlife – fish were plenty, ducks were raised along its banks, and Manileños had to be careful of
the huge, freshwater crocodiles that sometimes wreaked havoc in its waters.

People in Laguna and the nearby provinces used it to transfer goods to the capital. Residents
used it to wash their clothes. And at the end of the day, people could be seen swimming in its
cool waters, providing much needed relief from the sweltering heat of the sun.
Spanish Era

Along the banks of the Pasig River, the most influential and powerful Tagalog kingdom of
Maynila was transformed into a well-fortified Spanish colonial capital, aptly called the Walled
City or Intramuros, which became a military stronghold, the seat of government, the womb of
the Catholic Faith and the exclusive residential quarter of the Spaniards. It housed the residence
of the Spanish Governor-General until it was forced to relocate to San Miguel in the area of
Malacanang Palace after the great earthquake of 1645.The coined word Malacanang, adopted
from the Tagalog, “May lakan dyan” meaning, “there is a noble man there”, served as a suitable
abode for the highest official of the land (Zafra, 1973). Today, Malacanang Palace still remains as
the residence of the highest person at the helm of our country, the President of the Republic

It was during this time that the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade soared to new heights, lasting
from 1565 to 1815. Two vessels were making the journey annually between the Philippines and
Mexico, each trip lasting 200 days (Agoncillo, 1990). From the goods brought to Manila Port at
the mouth of the river, they were distributed by means of ferries, bancas, boats and lighters
(flat-bottomed barge) through Pasig River, its tributaries and inland waterways which served as
an effective network for transport, as well as an artery for the delivery of goods from the
interior. A system of paying taxes equivalent to toll fees was imposed which these traders were
subjected to prior to entering the river from Manila Bay.

Our national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal, through the two novels he wrote in the mid-1800’s,
described the river a shaving clean water and very beautiful, a source of potable water supply by
some Chinese haulers or peddlers. Apart from this, Binondo creek, referred to as a bend of this
river, served as a multi-purpose water system: a bathing place, drainage and sewage area,
laundry area, fishing ground and means of transport and communication. Interestingly enough,
as early as the Spanish times (16 th to 19th c) , pollution by sewage and laundry washing have
already started. By 1850, Spanish dwellers noticed the waters losing its pristine quality, thereby
prompting them to devise a filtering method of sand and charcoal to maintain its potability.

Parallel to urbanization came the rise of the earliest infrastructure, telecommunications and
public utilities(Electricista) in the Manila area. Trans-oceanic shipping lines also increased, with
the weekly Manila-Hong-Kong, the monthly Manila-Barcelona and Manila-Yokohama and other
irregular schedules from the US and European countries

American Era

The American occupation ushered in the early stages of industrialization along the banks of the
Pasig River due to the ease in transport of products and the accessibility of the ports of Manila
Bay. Communication was hastened with the establishment of the Manila Post Office in 1926,
rebuilt in 1946 after it got damaged by war, patterned after the design by Juan Arellano in
Greco-Roman style.

Foremost in their plan of action was to improve the North and South Harbors to further trade
and commerce. Very soon ships plying the river became a common sight. Another factor that
contributed to the area’s industrialization was the establishment of railways, road networks and
bridges, these include the Del Pan Bridge, Jones Bridge, Quezon Bridge, Sta. Cruz Bridge and the
asphalting of the city roads.
After World War II

After World War II, massive population growth, infrastructure construction, and the dispersal of
economic activities to Manila's suburbs left the river neglected. The banks of the river attracted
informal settlers and the remaining factories dumped their wastes into the river, making it
effectively a huge sewer system. Industrialization had already polluted the river.

In the 1930s, observers noticed the increasing pollution of the river, as fish migration from
Laguna de Bay diminished. People ceased using the river's water for laundering in the 1960s,
and ferry transport declined. By the 1970s, the river started to emanate offensive smells, and in
the 1980s, fishing in the river was prohibited. By the 1990s, the Pasig River was considered
biologically dead
 Stretch From Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay

The Pasig River is the main river in Metro Manila that connects Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay. It
is approximately 27 km long with an average width of 91 meters and depth ranging from 0.5 to
5.5 meters. The stretch of the Pasig River has an average depth of 1.3 meters. The deepest
portions (4.5 meters) are located between Guadalupe Bridge and C6 Bridge, while the
shallowest portion is at the mouth of Manila Bay. The average water volume is 6.6 million cubic
meter. During low flow from March to May, the discharge volume is 12m3/sec, while from
October to November the discharge volume reaches 275m3/sec. It is considered as a tidal
estuary because of the interchange of water during low tide from Laguna de Bay and during high
tide from Manila Bay. (Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, 2006)

The whole river and most portions of its tributaries lie entirely within Metro Manila, the
metropolitan region of the capital. Isla de Convalecencia, the only island dividing the Pasig River,
can be found in Manila and it is where the Hospicio de San Jose is located.

Tributaries and canals

One major river that drains Laguna de Bay is the Taguig River, which enters into Taguig before
becoming the Pateros River; it is the border between the municipalities of Pateros and Makati
City. Pateros River then enters the confluence where the Napindan Channel and Marikina River
meet. The Marikina River is the larger of the two major tributaries of the Pasig River, and it flows
southward from the mountains of Rizal and cuts through the Marikina Valley. The San Juan River
drains the plateau on which Quezon City stands; its major tributary is Diliman Creek.

Within the city of Manila, various esteros (canals) criss-cross through the city and connect with
the Tullahan River in the north and the Parañaque River to the west.

Crossings

A total of 19 bridges currently cross the Pasig. The first bridge from the source at Laguna de Bay
is the Napindan Bridge, followed by the Arsenio Jimenez Bridge to its west. Crossing the
Napindan Channel in Pasig is the Bambang Bridge. The newest bridge, opened in February 2015,
is the Buting-Sumilang Bridge that connects barangays Buting and Sumilang in Pasig.

The next bridge downstream is the C-5 Road (Felix Manalo) Bridge connecting the cities of
Makati and Pasig. Currently under construction is the Sta. Monica–Lawton Bridge, which will
connect Lawton Avenue in Makati to Sta. Monica Street in Kapitolyo, Pasig as part of the
Bonifacio Global City–Ortigas Link Road project approved in 2015.[3]

The Guadalupe Bridge between Makati and Mandaluyong carries Epifanio de los Santos Avenue,
the major artery of Metro Manila, as well as the Manile Line 3 from Guadalupe station to Boni
station. The Estrella–Pantaleon and Makati-Mandaluyong Bridges likewise connect the two cities
downstream, with the latter forming the end of Makati Avenue.

The easternmost crossing in the City of Manila is Lambingan Bridge in the district of Santa Ana,
followed by the Padre Zamora (Pandacan) Bridge connecting Pandacan and Santa Mesa districts,
and carries the southern line of the Philippine National Railways. The Mabini Bridge (formerly
Nagtahan Bridge) provides a crossing for Nagtahan Avenue, part of C-2 Road. Ayala Bridge
carries Ayala Boulevard, and connects the Isla de Convalecencia to both banks of the Pasig.

Further downstream are the Quezon Bridge from Quiapo to Ermita, the Line 1 bridge from
Central Terminal station to Carriedo station, MacArthur Bridge from Santa Cruz to Ermita, and
the Jones Bridge from Binondo to Ermita. The last bridge near the mouth of the Pasig is the
Roxas Bridge (formerly called Del Pan Bridge) from Tondo to the Port Area.

The Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 will serve as a connection road from North Luzon Expressway
in Balintawak, Quezon City to South Luzon Expressway in Buendia, Makati City. The expressway
bridge will be built within the city of Manila near the mouth of San Juan River where most parts
of Skyway Stage 3 will be built and another bridge parallel to Pandacan and PNR bridges that will
merge with NLEX Connector, and will serve as a solution to heavy traffic along EDSA. The project
is expected to be finish by 2020.
 How the Pollution Started
After World War II, the rich began to move away from the shores of the Pasig and many
factories took their place. During this time, shanty towns filled with squatters were created
wherever there was room, including on stilts over the river. This caused the lifeline of many
Filipinos to be suffocated. Through the years, the problem got progressively worse. It got to the
point, in recent years, where mounds of garbage float down the river alongside boats and many
of the tributaries became filled with garbage until there was no water left.
In the 1930s, observers noticed the increasing pollution of the river, as fish migration from
Laguna de Bay diminished. People ceased using the river's water for laundering in the 1960s,
and ferry transport declined. By the 1970s, the river started to emanate offensive smells as a
result of waste from swine and poultry establishments in the area where protected Marikina
watershed is located (Pinugay,Baras,Rizal) and in the 1980s, fishing in the river was prohibited.
By the 1990s, the Pasig River was considered biologically dead

In 2017 a study on river plastic emissions into the world’s oceans cited the Pasig River as the
world’s eighth most polluting river in terms of unwanted micro and surface concentrations of
plastic waste entering the marine environment.

Pasig River Now

The Pasig River has been called a dead river, unable to sustain life. A major factor contributing to
this is the extremely low amount of oxygen in the water, due to residences and factories
dumping their sewage into the river. The organic matter in the sewage takes up oxygen as it
decomposes, leaving very little for organisms like fish.

One study examined the chemical properties of the river water, and rated several samples using
a water quality index. Based on this index, a perfect score of 100 signifies perfectly pristine
water. The best sample, obtained from near Manila Bay, scored a 16. Other samples obtained
closer to the center of the city scored as low as 6.

Given all of that, there is a long way to go if we want to stand a chance at rehabilitating the
river, especially considering the many harmful substances that have been found in the river.

Heavy metals are some of the most abundant pollutants in the river. These metals, including
nickel, lead, copper, manganese, and zinc, come from industrial waste dumped into the river.
They are unhealthy for plants and animals, especially in high concentrations.

Studies have found a wide variety of other dangerous substances in the river. The Hepatitis E
virus—which could infect people living near the river who ingest river water—has been found in
some samples. Even high concentrations of ibuprofen, a common drug sold in the Philippines as
Advil and Alaxan, have also been found, which can also be harmful to river organisms.
 Presidents Project to Rehabilitate Pasig River
Fidel V. Ramos

During the administration of Fidel V. Ramos proclamation 704 was signed, approximately 5000
families were relocated to the suburbs. There are approximately 700,000–750,000 people are
being affected by the relocation of illegal settlements along the Pasig River. This includes people
who are being relocated away from the shores of Laguna de Bay, the Pasig River, and all of its
tributaries. Around 10,000 illegal settlers will be relocated to Calauan, which is on the southern
shore of Laguna de Bay. They will be moved into an environmentally friendly housing project.
Many others are being relocated to Bulacan, Rodriguez, and Montalban.

The main problem that the government is facing with the relocation is that many of the
relocated people move back to Manila into a different shanty town due to the fact that they
work in Manila and it is hard to find work in many other places on Luzon. Former Makati Mayor
Jejomar Binay stated “Aside from livelihood, there should be transportation assistance”. He is
referring to having some sort of assisted transportation for these urban poor so that they can
live in the suburbs and work every day in Manila.

Joseph E. Estrada

In 1999, former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada created the PRRC as the government agency
to lead in the rehabilitation and transformation of the Pasig River and its environs. Estrada
mandated the PRRC to restore the river’s water quality to Class C level, making it fit for fisheries,
recreation such as boating, and manufacturing as a water source after being treated. For many
years, the PRRC worked with NGOs to complement its funding and operational requirements.

Because the majority of the people living on the edges of the river are illegal squatters, it is very
difficult to monitor the amount of garbage or waste — or to treat either of them. It is estimated
that 65% of the waste flowing down the Pasig River is due to these illegal settlement villages.
Philippine law states that the government has the legal right to relocate the people in these
illegal settlements to 3 m away from the shore of the river. This is under controversy as the
government wants people to be 10 m away from the river's edge to ensure that the river stays
clean, to add a buffer zone against potential flooding, to create parks and walkways, and to
allow access for ships and emergency services. This was officially changed during the Joseph
Estrada administration when the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) changed the
law from 3 m to 10 m. This is controversial as the MMDA does not have the authority to change
a national law.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

During the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Executive Order 717 was signed, which
ordered the dredging of Pasig River to clean, avoid the stinky smell and floods. Engineer
Francisco Vargas of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission said the dredging project removes
sediments and garbage at the river basin and increases the river's depth from 4 to 6 meters.

The current ferry service was inaugurated by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on February

14, 2007 with five stations operating, including Escolta, PUP, Sta. Ana, Hulo and Guadalupe.
After a year, the entire system grew from 5 stations to 14 stations, with more stations still to be
constructed.

Although there were still pollution-related problems, odor and garbage problems were not as
bad as they were during the Magsaysay Lines and Starcraft Ferry days through the efforts of the
government. But the persistent problem of the water lilies blocking the pathway of the boats
and their infestation on the stations on the river remained.

This service was also used by the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission to highlight the
importance of the environment to the people of Manila. Lectures were conducted to
stakeholders from various companies and schools (at least four times a month) and to the
regular passengers of the ferry (at least thrice a week).

The ferry service was closed in February 2011.

Benigno Aquino III

Due to Ondoy, Pasig-Marikina river channel improvement is the focus of the government in the
first year of Aquino’s term. The DPWH together with DENR created a plan to increase the
holding capacity of the Pasig River through the river channel improvement project.

In 2013, The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has partnered with the
Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) to embark on a P50-million mangrove-planting
project along the banks of one of Metro Manila’s most important waterways.

“Aside from the obvious benefits we get from mangroves as trees, this greening project is a step
toward reviving the Pasig River by improving its water quality and making it viable for more life
forms to survive in it. Providing clean water, after all, remains a top priority of the Aquino
administration,” Paje stressed.

The latest Pasig Ferry Service was reactivated on April 28, 2014 to alleviate the traffic situation
in Metro Manila in light of the infrastructure projects being constructed simultaneously.

Rodrigo Duterte

The government is focused on cleaning Manila Bay that the DENR even said it will be swimmable
before the end of 2019. That means the government has to take up the challenge of finally
cleaning the Pasig River, where more than a fifth, or 21%, of the bay's wastes come from.

On September 2019, Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, also the concurrent chair of the
Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) vowed to get rid of all illegally-berthed vessels in
the Pasig River.

On November 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte thinks abolish the Pasig River Rehabilitation
Commission (PRRC), saying the famous river is already "clean" anyway.

PRRC is responsible for removing almost 22 million kilos of solid waste from the river from 1999
to 2017 and the relocation of over 18,000 families living along waterways.
But according to COA, PRRC spent P107.568 million out of the P111.078 million allotted for the
clearing of 6 waterways. The projects, however, only posted an accomplishment rate of 1% to
27.65%.
Questions:

1. In what decade observers noticed the increasing pollution of the river, as fish migration
from Laguna de Bay diminished? -1930
2. What is the commission established by former president Joseph Estrada to focus on
Pasig River rehabilitation?- Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission
3. From what sea bay does Pasig River ends? –Manila Bay
4. Who’s the president that abolished PRRC?-Rodrigo Duterte
5. What executive order does Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to order the dredging of Pasig
River? -Executive Order 717
6. What early kingdoms were established along Pasig River before the Spanish arrived?
-Namayan, Maynila, and Tondo
7. The city's name Pasig was believed to have come from what old Sanskrit meaning
"sand"? –Pasega
8. What is the name of current transportation service in Pasig River that is handled by
MMDA?-Pasig River Ferry Service/ Pasig River Ferry
9. Who’s the Philippine President that relocates a pproximately 5000 families from Pasig
River to suburbs?- Fidel V. Ramos
10. On what year was the Pasig Ferry service was last re-launched? -2014
11. How much solid waste does the PRRC removed from the Pasig River from 1999-2017?-
22 million kilos.
12. In what decade does the river started to emanate offensive smells as a result of waste
from swine and poultry establishments in the area where protected Marikina watershed
is located?-1970s
13. What is the approximately length of the Pasig River?- It is approximately 27 km long
14. What is the average length of the Pasig River?-91 meters
15. In what decade does the dishing was banned in Pasig River?-1980s