Pasig River inspection bares trash, fecal wastes, rundown boats

Officials who made a trip along the 27-kilometer Pasig River were greeted with floating trash, rundown boats and establishments and residences built very close to the edge of the water, which have been plaguing the condition of the historic river.

According to a report by Mark Salazar for Balitanghali on Wednesday, the river was inspected by Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Danilo Lim and officials from the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC).

The officials traveled upstream from Manila Bay up to Marikina City.

Fecal waste from informal settlers along Baseco and Del Pan in Manila who are yet to be relocated were found.

Discharge of tugboats along Binondo were also found polluting the river, while old government boats were left parked near the Pasig River lighthouse.

Many tributaries of the river were found to lack pumping stations which are supposed to filter trash from the water before it is discharged to Pasig River and eventually to Manila Bay.

Pasig River has 47 tributaries including the four major river tributaries composed of the San Juan River, Marikina River, Taguig River, and Napindan Channel.

The MMDA chairman said the World Bank has granted the Philippines a loan in order to rehabilitate and create more pumping stations.

Compounding these problems hounding the river are industrial sites and condominiums that discharge harmful substance into the river.

Cimatu said notices of violation for the establishments concerned are already with the Adjudication Board of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Authorities added that they are struggling to implement the 10-meter easement of coastlines because of private buildings that were previously allowed to own property due under the old three-meter easement requirement. —Julia Ornedo/LDF, GMA News