REVIVED FERRY SYSTEM BOASTS OF HIGH-CAPACITY BOATS

(Pasig River rehabilitation now in full swing)

 Manila Bulletin

February 20, 2007

By: Priscila R. Arios

The historic Pasig, River, whose extensive rehabilitation is being undertaken by the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC), will soon serve as a 27-kilometer waterway for an ultra modern ferry service that would serve municipalities and cities along the river system connecting Manila Bay and Laguna Lake

Environmental and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo T. Reyes, concurrent chair of the PRRC, revealed yesterday that two ferry boasts were already completed last January and are now undergoing trials and final test runs.

Two more boasts are being constructed and will be operational by March with yet two mere ferries expected to be in the water by April, Secretary Reyes added.

Likewise Reyes said that a total of seven ferry stations have been under construction since last year.  The PRRC has also already awarded four more ferry station contracts, as well as contracts for the provision of a ticketing system and access system equipment.

The PPRC and the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are employing multi-pronged measures to revive the Pasig River under the department’s Integrated River Basin Management and Development Master Plan, Reyes said.

“Never before has the government addressed the problems facing the Pasig River as now,” said Reyes. “These problems include informal settlers along river banks, polluted tributaries, and the dumping of both solid and liquid wastes into the river among others.”

To address the problems the DENR chief said the government has already relocated 6,115 informal settlers along the riverbanks, and cracked down on industries dumping wastes into the river through the National Anti-Environmental Crime Task Force.

The PRRC has put up relocation sites for the informal settlers complete with school and health facilities.  It has also completed a number of linear parks that not only beautify the riverbanks but also act as buffers against solid wastes finding their way into the river.

Overall, Reyes said the DENR program includes the treatment of the Pasig River;s major and minor tributaries by putting up waste interceptors screens and treatment plants and a macrophyte maturation pond wherever applicable.

The program will be undertaken in 17 critical areas along the Pasig River he said.

Once revived, the Pasig River ferry system is expected to help unclog traffic in Metro Manila, especially in 11 of its 17 cities and municipalities that are within the project area, namely Caloocan, Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Pasay, Pasig, Pateros, Quezon City, San Juan and Taguig .

Aside from the ferry system, the DENR and PRRC have another ambitious project that will directly reduce pollution in the river and also help in easing traffic in the metropolis.  The project, known as the Pasig boulevard cum interceptor river highway, will be an alternate route for motorists while serving as waste collecting structures along riverbanks.

The project, which has drawn interest among foreign and local investors, will improve the feeder networks connecting the major central business districts to decongest major thoroughfares.  It will also improve property values along the Pasig River and serve as a  catalyst to its front door development, Reyes said.