PRRC, NCMF sign MOA to curb pollution in Pasig River
Published Apr 12, 2019 11:06 am
By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) has partnered with the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) to effectively curb pollution in Pasig River and its tributaries.
An enormous amount of garbage has almost covered a part of the Pasig River under the Sevilla Bridge at the boundary of San Juan City and Mandaluyong City, clogging the waterway and causing floods during heavy rains and creating a breeding ground of diseases. (MARK BALMORES / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
A memorandum of understanding was signed last Wednesday between PRRC and NCMF, led by Executive Director Jose Antonio Goitia and Secretary Saidamen Pangarungan, respectively.
“I foresee the dawning of a prosperous, peaceful and enduring community relationship among Christians and Muslims, a relationship characterized by fairness, industry, and synergy in all worthwhile endeavors,” Goitia said.
The agreement between PRRC and NCMF, as both instrumentalities of the government, was made to ensure that the general welfare of the Muslim Filipino communities are taken care of, especially before, during, and after relocation operations.
The MOU aims to bridge the cultural and religious gaps, as well as address the challenges in conducting operations for river restoration and management within Islamic communities and relocation concerns of the Muslims.
PRRC and its partners were hopeful that they will be able to gain the needed support from the Muslim community to ensure that the Pasig River rehabilitation efforts can expand to their territories.
NCMF acts as the primary government agency through which Muslim Filipinos can seek government assistance.
It will also serve as the medium by which such assistance may be extended to Muslim Filipinos.
It also participates in the peace process involving conflicts between Filipino Muslim groups and/or individuals and the government, in cooperation with appropriate agencies, individuals, and institutions.
According to Pangarungan, NCMF will ensure that all Muslim communities within the Pasig River System, such as Manila's Estero de Quiapo and Estero de San Miguel—among others, will fully cooperate with the government in the rehabilitation of these waterways.
“If us, Muslims, cleanse ourselves before praying several times a day, then I do not see the reason why we cannot extend cleanliness to our environment. We will make sure that we will be a big part of the campaign to save our Pasig River and the Manila Bay,” Pangarungan said.
Both parties agreed to create an oversight committee to monitor and ascertain compliance parameters and guidelines of Muslim Filipino communities on resettlement sites.
They also assured their best to establish networks and linkages for sharing and exchanging data, reports, and information, and to meet regularly to identify problem areas and resolve the same.
In addition, both agree to periodically discuss the challenges on the relocation sites and provide assistance to address the relevant issues.
An enormous amount of garbage has almost covered a part of the Pasig River under the Sevilla Bridge at the boundary of San Juan City and Mandaluyong City, clogging the waterway and causing floods during heavy rains and creating a breeding ground of diseases. (MARK BALMORES / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
A memorandum of understanding was signed last Wednesday between PRRC and NCMF, led by Executive Director Jose Antonio Goitia and Secretary Saidamen Pangarungan, respectively.
“I foresee the dawning of a prosperous, peaceful and enduring community relationship among Christians and Muslims, a relationship characterized by fairness, industry, and synergy in all worthwhile endeavors,” Goitia said.
The agreement between PRRC and NCMF, as both instrumentalities of the government, was made to ensure that the general welfare of the Muslim Filipino communities are taken care of, especially before, during, and after relocation operations.
The MOU aims to bridge the cultural and religious gaps, as well as address the challenges in conducting operations for river restoration and management within Islamic communities and relocation concerns of the Muslims.
PRRC and its partners were hopeful that they will be able to gain the needed support from the Muslim community to ensure that the Pasig River rehabilitation efforts can expand to their territories.
NCMF acts as the primary government agency through which Muslim Filipinos can seek government assistance.
It will also serve as the medium by which such assistance may be extended to Muslim Filipinos.
It also participates in the peace process involving conflicts between Filipino Muslim groups and/or individuals and the government, in cooperation with appropriate agencies, individuals, and institutions.
According to Pangarungan, NCMF will ensure that all Muslim communities within the Pasig River System, such as Manila's Estero de Quiapo and Estero de San Miguel—among others, will fully cooperate with the government in the rehabilitation of these waterways.
“If us, Muslims, cleanse ourselves before praying several times a day, then I do not see the reason why we cannot extend cleanliness to our environment. We will make sure that we will be a big part of the campaign to save our Pasig River and the Manila Bay,” Pangarungan said.
Both parties agreed to create an oversight committee to monitor and ascertain compliance parameters and guidelines of Muslim Filipino communities on resettlement sites.
They also assured their best to establish networks and linkages for sharing and exchanging data, reports, and information, and to meet regularly to identify problem areas and resolve the same.
In addition, both agree to periodically discuss the challenges on the relocation sites and provide assistance to address the relevant issues.