The closure in the portion of Meralco Avenue due to the start of construction for the subway project makes it a bit difficult to go around the metropolis, specifically coming from Kapitolyo.
As I was running late for a Rotary meeting, I had to look for other alternative routes to cross over to the other side of the metro. This brought me alongside the Pasig River in that part of Makati.
I observed that the murky water of the river is now clearer with nary a water lily floating. I was missing the stench and the disgusting odor one can smell a mile away, especially after a heavy downpour.
This was Tuesday last week. The following day, I received an update on the P2-B Pasig River cleanup project of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corporation (SMC).
In less than two years since the clean-up project was launched with full backing of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and local government units, the target to dredge and remove one million tons of dumped waste will be hit this month.
The clearer water could be traced to the removal of more than one million metric tons in silt and solid wastes.
Reminds me of Huangpu River in Shanghai. Pre-pandemic, the footloose in me led me to Shanghai. I was mesmerized by its development, recalling its state the last time I visited in 1989. To immerse myself in the beauty of China's largest and greatest commercial and industrial city that was originally a small agricultural village, I took a night cruise along the Huangpu River, an artificial 113-kilometer river flowing through Shanghai and described to be the last tributary of the Yangtze.
I was green with envy hearing from our Shanghainese guide that Huangpu River used to be severely polluted, caused by the dumping of sewage, agricultural runoff and by products and industrial discharges.
At the present state of our very own Pasig River, it will not be far-fetched that, a 25.2-kilometer river that bisects Manila and its surrounding urban areas, will be at par with Huangpu.
History tells us that the Pasig River used to be “an important transport route and source of water for Spanish Manila, but due to “negligence and industrial development, the river suffered a rapid decline in the second half of the 20th century and was declared biologically dead in 1990.” There are many other rivers in various stages of decay in the metropolis.
It would be marvelous should the Pasig River be restored to its previous state. Lucky, there’s SMC with an environmental, social and governance (ESG) heart doing its share for its cleanup and rehabilitation.
SMC President Ramon “RSA” S. Ang is committed to “intensify” the cleaning and dredging operations of Pasig River, which despite its sorry state is an alternative route for commerce. Mr. RSA, in no uncertain terms, promised “to intensify our operations,” and yes SMC did!
The objective is to sustain dredging capacity of some 50,000 metric tons monthly. Completed sections along the Pasig River now measure five to six meters deep--a significant increase in flood-carrying capacity coming from the two to three meters depth observed at the start of the project.
Going full blast on its river rehabilitation project is part of SMC’s corporate social responsibility. Simply put, SMC is an advocate of ESG standards in its operations.
ESG (environment, social and governance) is now the buzzword in the banking and business community.
Environmental degradation has become an unnerving concern because a mere thunderstorm creates flash floods, traffic jams and difficulty in getting home for the working force.
The apparent “lack of proper education, awareness, knowledge and approach of people towards the environment degrades nature and its resources,” further exacerbating the situation.
Moving ahead, with SMC’s efforts in protecting Mother Nature, I look forward to having that river cruise along the Pasig River just like in Shanghai’s Huangpu River.
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