30-7-2023 (MANILA) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has taken a significant step towards the development of the Pasig River urban area by signing an executive order to establish an inter-agency council. According to a document released by Malacañang on Sunday, Executive Order 35 creates this council, which will be led by the housing and urban development secretary.
The primary function and responsibility of the newly formed inter-agency council will be to oversee and facilitate the comprehensive rehabilitation of the banks surrounding the Pasig River water system, as well as nearby water systems. President Marcos emphasized that this undertaking aims to achieve several critical objectives: providing alternative transportation options, stimulating economic opportunities, and bolstering tourism activities in the region.
President Marcos underscored the urgency of rehabilitating the areas along the Pasig River, citing their immense historical and cultural significance, as well as their role as a vital waterway in the city. The river has long been an integral part of Manila’s identity and development, and its revitalization holds great promise for the city’s future.
Funding for the council’s initial requirements will be drawn from the budgets of its member agencies, streamlining the process and ensuring that progress can begin promptly.
It’s worth noting that in 1999, during the Estrada administration, the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission was established with similar aims. However, in 2019, former President Rodrigo Duterte dissolved the commission as part of a broader effort to right-size the government bureaucracy.
President Marcos’s move to re-establish an inter-agency council for the Pasig River’s development signals a renewed commitment to addressing the region’s needs and unlocking its potential for growth and prosperity. The council’s comprehensive approach, led by the housing and urban development secretary, brings together various agencies to work collaboratively towards achieving the common goal of revitalizing this iconic waterway.
