President Marcos has ordered all concerned agencies to keep up the pace in rehabilitating the Pasig River.
"[L]et us keep up the pace and the hard work, and ensure that the Pasig River becomes a place of rest, recreation, and pride for our people and our country," Marcos said in his speech during the inauguration of the new stretch of the Pasig River Urban Development Showcase Area at the Plaza Mexico, Magallanes Drive in Intramuros, Manila on Sunday, June 23.
The President encouraged the agencies and organizations collaborating for the completion of esplanade to ensure that the whole project will be finished within the target time frame.
He also urged the citizens to rally behind the advocacy in bringing back the old glory of the Pasig River and contribute in their own way to save the river.
"Supporting and participating in the efforts of the government and its partners to help maintain its cleanliness, and that will go a long way," Marcos said.
Marcos stressed that "how well we do here will reflect our efforts in other areas of the country and how successful we are at improving and leaving the country a better place than we found it."
He assured that he and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos will provide their all-out support and commitment to the completion of the project.
He is hopeful that in three years time, the Pasig River will be a river that will look and feel like the famous waterways across the world such as the Seine in Paris, the River Thames in London, and the Chao Phraya in Bangkok.
The completion of the Pasig River Urban Development Showcase Area Phase 1C follows the opening of Phases 1A and 1B.
Phase 1C will introduce a one-storey structure with a roof deck along the Pasig River, featuring a 3-meter wide walkway flanked by commercial spaces at the ground level and a combination of a walkway, bike lane and viewing area on the roof deck.
The phase will encompass 32 leasable commercial stalls equipped with modern amenities including sewage treatment, individual electric and water meters, fire protection and public restrooms.
In addition to Phase 1C, the Inter-Agency Council for Pasig River Urban Development (IAC-PRUD) plans to extend the esplanade with a 135-meter boardwalk linking Plaza Mexico and Fort Santiago, enhancing access to these key tourist attractions via the Pasig River.
The Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli (PBBM) Project, initiated under the President’s Executive Order No. 35, seeks to rehabilitate the Pasig River to its former condition while enhancing transportation links and alleviating street traffic.