Navotas partners with DENR, AboitizPower to rehabilitate river
By Hannah Nicol
The Navotas City government has teamed up with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) and Therma Mobile, Inc. (TMO), a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power, to rehabilitate a portion of the Navotas River.
Mayor John Rey Tiangco, DENR-EMB NCR Regional Director-in-Charge Engineer Divina Camarao, and AboitizPower AVP for Corporate Services Engineer Lou Jason Deligencia signed a memorandum of agreement covering a one-kilometer stretch of the river in Barangays North Bay Boulevard South (NBBS) Dagat-dagatan, and NBBS Kaunlaran.
The initiative is part of the Adopt-an-Estero/Waterbody Program. It supports the Supreme Court order to clean and restore Manila Bay and its tributaries.
Under the agreement, the city government will enforce environmental laws, organize tree-planting and cleanup drives, and relocate informal settlers living along the riverbanks.
The DENR will monitor water quality and lead information campaigns, while TMO will conduct monthly bioremediation and support greening projects as part of its corporate social responsibility.
Tiangco underscored the importance of the partnership in strengthening the city’s disaster resilience and environmental protection efforts.
“Navotas is a coastal city that faces challenges from flooding and water pollution. By joining forces with DENR and Therma Mobile, we are making a strong commitment to cleaner waterways, healthier communities, and a more sustainable future for our people,” he said.
“We are thankful to Therma Mobile for setting an example of responsible corporate citizenship. I encourage other companies to follow suit and adopt their own waterways. Together, we can transform Navotas into a city where development and environmental care go hand in hand,” Tiangco added.
The mayor also called on other companies to follow TMO’s example and adopt waterways in their areas
“This initiative is not just about cleaning our river. It’s about giving future generations of Navoteños a safer, cleaner, and more livable city,” the mayor said.
The local government said that the 10-year partnership will undergo annual reviews and may be renewed or expanded based on the progress of rehabilitation efforts.