Business leaders converge to help save Pasig River

Faizza Tanggol

Rockwell, Makati—Business tycoons managed to find time from their busy schedules on July 13, 2009 to help lead the effort to save Pasig River.
Ayala Corporation President & COO Fernando Zobel; San Miguel Corp President & COO Ramon Ang; Aboitiz Transport System President & CEO Endika Aboitiz, ABS-CBN President & COO Charo Santos-Concio, SM Investments Vice Chairman Tessie Coson-Sy represented by SM Foundation Executive Director Debbie Sy, Philippine Daily Inquirer President & CEO Sandy Prieto-Romualdez, Philippine Star Editor-in-Chief Isaac Belmonte, Globe Asiatique President Delfin Lee, Herma Group of Co. President & CEO Hermie Esguerra, Manila Water President Rene Almendraz, and Maynilad President Babes Singson formed the Advisory Board of Kapit Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP), the newest project of ABS-CBN Foundation in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources through the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) that aims to rehabilitate the Pasig River and its tributaries.
ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc.-Managing Director Gina Lopez stressed that KBPIP is currently focusing its efforts on the 2.9 kilometer stretch of Estero de Paco clean river zone. KBPIP has launched the voluntary relocation of the informal settlers living along the banks of Estero de Paco. Families have been moved to “Bayanijuan sa Calauan”, the official resettlement site of KBPIP in Laguna. National Housing Authority and ABS-CBN Foundation signed memorandum of agreement to co-manage the 107-hectare Calauan site.
She also emphasized the importance of cleaning Estero de Paco as this will “pave way for other possibilities” of cleaning up the whole Pasig River system.
“I am glad that ABS-CBN Foundation has invaluable partners,” declared Lopez, “Working together really renders significant results. This board meeting is really about presenting the Pasig project to the Board and has everyone own it so it will really be a kapit bisig project.”
Media giants: ABS-CBN, Philippine Daily Inquirer, and Philippine Star show unswerving support for the Pasig River project.
Find out how you can help. Call KBPIP at their Bayan hotlines 410-2753 to 55 or email them at ilogpasig@abs-cbn.com or kapitbisigparasailogpasig@gmail.com. Contribute to Piso Para sa Ilog Pasig by texting GIVE ILOG then send it to 2366 for Globe, TM, Smart, Talk ‘N Text, and Sun Cellular. You may also deposit directly at their BDO account number 393-0078222, Sct. Albano branch.