THE POLUTED PASIG RIVER IN MANILA

One of the main rivers of the Philippines is the Pasig River. Pasig River was once praised for
its beauty. It encompasses in its system many smaller rivers and tributaries, six sub basins
and Manila Bay. It is the primary river supporting the area known as Metro Manila, which is
the capital city of Manila, and its surrounding metropolis. Since the end of World War II,
Pasig River has been the primary recipient of much of the pollution produced by Metro
Manila’s ten million inhabitants. But then it got to the point in past 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.

These past years, despite various initiatives and projects with international donors
such as ADB and the World Bank, the Danish International Development Agency,
government, private donors and civil society, the river remains in very bad shape. Yet to
keep the momentum in rehabilitating this nationally important waterway bringing together
over 360 stakeholders, it will be chaired by the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission
(PRRC), this is a government body established in1999 to restore the river. But its effort to
revive the quality of the Pasig River and its tributaries continue to deteriorate over time.
Thus the environmental advocate groups call the government to be more active in
rehabilitating the Pasig River that connects two major bodies the Laguna De Bay and Manila
Bay. Yet in October 2018, the PRRC won the first Asia River prize, in recognition of its efforts
to rehabilitate the Pasig River. According to PRRC, the aquatic life has returned to river.

Our insight to this one of the major problems in the Philippines like the water
pollution of the Pasig River was done with a great solution in our country. And this is
problems makes us to realized what we’ve done into our nature. Thus we must thank to our
beloved president who has the good heart, wisdom and knowledge as our good leader in
our country.

REZIA ROSE PAGDILAO

MARIE CLAIRE SALEB
JOHN MARK DAVE JUAN