The Pasig River is a 27-kilometer body of water that traverses across Metro Manila and connects Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay. Once a major transport route, source of water and thriving ecosystem, the river is intimately connected to Philippine history. Today, it is one of the most polluted and toxic river systems in the Philippines.

Based on a study conducted by the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC), the Pasig River is polluted with 45% household waste, 45% industrial waste, and 10% solid waste.

Recognizing the need for a broad based effort to clean the Pasig River, the ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through PRRC signed a memorandum of agreement last March 2008 to co-manage the rehabilitation of the Metro Manila water basin, with initial focus on the Pasig River and its tributaries. This partnership gave birth to Kapit Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP), which was formally launched in February 24, 2009.

Since its launch, KBPIP have begun strategies that move them closer to their goal through Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs), information, education, and communication (IEC) campaigns, relocation, and area redevelopment.

KBPIP has helped lessen solid waste load to the waterways by putting up MRFs in Mandaluyong, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) campus, Sta. Ana, Baseco Port Area, San Antonio, and Paco Market. The MRF equipments and facilities were provided by PRRC, Goldilocks, and BASECO Board.

IEC campaigns are integral to urge support for the project and to shift the consciousness and behavior of the people on the Pasig River. Media-based strategies have begun through different multimedia platforms. With regular airtime donated by ABS-CBN Broadcasting, KBPIP airs Pasig River Reports four times a day over ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) at 10AM, 2PM, 5PM, and 8PM.

The Asian Development Bank recently gave a $50,000 grant to boost KBPIP’s IEC campaign by developing additional interstitials on the state of the Pasig River as well as crafting storybooks for children and a how-to book on waste management including wastewater and solid waste.

Community-based strategies funded by KBPIP have also started through multi-sectoral fora, focus group discussions, solid waste management and segregation workshops, and storytelling for children. Information materials about waste segregation have also been disseminated in the Paco area.

KBPIP also conducted a one-day registration fair for residents and commercial establishments along Estero de Paco to apply for free sewer line connection, in partnership with Maynilad.

On May 11, 2009, KBPIP inaugurated its official resettlement site, “Bayanijuan sa Calauan,” a 107-hectare site co-managed by ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. and the National Housing Authority (NHA). Since then, KBPIP have begun relocation operations for the residents living along the riverbanks, particularly focusing on Estero de Paco. To date, close to a thousand families have been resettled in Calauan and 181 families in the PRRC site in Montalban, Rizal.

Additional housing units sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, Sun Life Financial, and Zonta Club of Makati are currently being built in Calauan. Repair of the school within the site as well and construction of livelihood center and basketball court have been built courtesy of the Lopez Group of Companies.

KBPIP has already cleared the households in Apacible and Quirino areas, as well as the Paco Market area in Estero de Paco. In partnership with the Metro Manila Development Authority and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, riprapping of the easements and dredging of the waterway is ongoing. As well, phytoremediation has already been put up in the headwater to reduce the pollution in the estero.

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