Pasig River gets a major boost, as a new office dedicated to its rehabilitation and development is now in the works, according to a Malacañang news release.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has issued Executive Order 92 creating the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Pasig River Rehabilitation (OPAPRR) for the effective and timely implementation of the rehabilitation and development of the Pasig River.
Under EO 92 issued last August 13, OPAPRR shall be headed by the Presidential Adviser for Pasig River Rehabilitation (PAPRR) appointed by the President and given the rank and emoluments of a Secretary.
President Marcos has prioritized the rejuvenation of the heavily polluted Pasig River through the Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli initiative.
The project aims to transform the 25-kilometer riverfront into a commercial and tourist hub featuring parks, bike lanes, pedestrian pathways and commercial spaces.
The OPAPRR’s mandate includes advising the President on all matters regarding the formulation and implementation of policies, plans, activities, and programs for the Pasig River.
The office is also tasked with monitoring, coordinating, and harmonizing all policies, plans, activities, and programs related to the Pasig River; and coordinating with local government units (LGUs) in the implementation of policies and programs related to the Pasig River urban development.
The OPARR is also directed to monitor the implementation of presidential directives for the rehabilitation, development, and restoration of the banks along the Pasig River water system; coordinate efforts of government departments, agencies, bureaus, including government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs); as well as invite LGUs and private sector representatives to assist in Pasig River’s rehabilitation.
The OPAPRR will also submit a bi-annual report to the President on the status of the implementation of EO 92.
EO 92, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin for the President, also reorganized the Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development (IAC-PRUD), which was established to facilitate and ensure the full rehabilitation of the banks along the Pasig River water system and nearby water systems.
The Presidential Adviser for Pasig River Rehabilitation will serve as the Council’s chairperson, while the vice chair will be the chairperson of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
The members of the IAC-PRUD include the Secretaries of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Finance (DOF), and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
