Environment Secretary Lito Atienza said that the rehabilitation of the Pasig River has been intensified with the completion of major activities in the river cleanup.

Atienza said that so far, a total of 7,758 households have been relocated, representing 77.8 percent of the target 10,000 households, in six relocation sites.

These relocation sites include one each in Montalban, Rizal; Taguig City; Trece Martires in Cavite, two in General Trias, also in Cavite; and another one in San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal.

“All resettlement sites established by the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission include a full range of community amenities, including schools, health centers, multi-purpose halls, day-care centers, livelihood opportunities and recreation facilities,” Atienza said.

Atienza, who heads the Pasig commission that was created in January 1999, said the river’s rehabilitation has two major components: water-based in the areas of dredging, estero cleanup, phytoremediation, bio-remediation, aeration and filtration; and land-based in the areas of setting materials recovery facilities, relocation of informal settlers along the riverbanks, linear park development and public advocacy.

Following the relocation of informal settlers, Atienza said both sides of the river were transformed into environmental preservation areas. This, he said, involved the development of linear parks, walkways and greenbelts.

“As of date, we have overshot our target for EPA development of 23 km by .4 km as of year-end, and at least 2.4 km more in progress,” Atienza said.

On the Pasig River ferry service which the Pasig commission started in 2007, Atienza said there are now 10 main and four satellite ferry stations. “The air-conditioned ferry service has been providing the commuting public with a reliable, safe and efficient transport system, while serving as alternative transport corridor to decongest road traffic in Metro Manila.”

Last year, Atienza said, the commission also forged a partnership with other government agencies in conducting a baseline study of the sediment quality in 13 key tributaries of Pasig river. The data that will be generated from the study, said Atienza, will be used as benchmark for gauging current efforts as well as basis for future activities.

Atienza said the conduct of water quality monitoring activities is being pursued on a regular basis in five strategic areas along the river, including the cleaning of esteros to reduce the effluents that flow into the main river line. Othel V. Campos