AFP supports rehabilitation of Pasig River

Faizza Farinna T. Tanggol

Contingents from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) headed over to “Bayanijuan sa Calauan”, the official resettlement site of Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP), to show support for the Pasig River cause, sealing their long term commitment through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on August 24, 2009.

Present for the signing were ABS-CBN Foundation Managing Director Gina Lopez, AFP chief of staff Gen. Victor Ibrado, AFP Civil Military Operations Deputy Chief-of-Staff Maj. Gen. Reynaldo Sealana, and Bayanijuan Head Mariles Gonzales.

AFP generously agreed to provide manpower to help in the completion of the housing units in Bayanijuan sa Calauan and logistical support for the upcoming Philippine International Marathon: A Run for the Pasig River on November 8, 2009. The AFP also committed to conduct medical-dental missions in Bayanijuan sa Calauan at least once a year. The AFP has been very cooperative in the actual relocation efforts way before formalizing such partnership with KBPIP, consistently lending military trucks to transport relocatees.

“There are people who don’t know what the armed forces represent,” said Gen. Ibrado, “Now, they can see that the soldiers are also people, we are also Filipinos. We are prepared to help citizens in whatever way. We are prepared not only to give them protection against bad elements in the society, but also to help them in their livelihood.”

After signing, the AFP contingents manifested their commitment through holding a community day in the resettlement site consisting of the following activities: declogging drainage, sieving sand, clearing overgrowth and painting houses.

“This collaboration is very important,” emphasizes KBPIP volunteer services officer Larah Ortega-Ibañez, “As Armed Forces of the Philippines, they are mandated to provide security, but more than that, to also uphold the welfare of our countrymen. The civil military operation is a vital arm where they do community service—that is what we at KBPIP are tapping.”

On March 2008, ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources signed a MOA for the rehabilitation of Metro Manila river basin, with initial focus on Pasig River and its tributaries. This gave birth to Kapit Bisig para sa Ilog Pasig, which was formally launched in February 2009.

Since June of this year, KBPIP has begun its own relocation operations for the families living near the banks of Estero de Paco. To date, 221 families have been relocated to Bayanijuan sa Calauan. ABS-CBN Foundation and the National Housing Authority (NHA) also signed a MOA to co-manage the 107-hectare resettlement site.

***
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. Sa ating pagkakapit-bisig, mabubuhay na muli ang Ilog Pasig!