President Marcos has credited First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos for her key role in the success of the Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli project, which has earned the 2025 United Nations (UN) Asian Townscape Award for its contribution to sustainable urban development.

In a press briefing, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the recognition was officially conveyed to the Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development through a letter from the UN-Habitat office.

The distinction was confirmed by the UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia following deliberations held in Japan on Sept. 17 and will be formally presented in Hong Kong on Nov. 27.

Castro said President Marcos praised the First Lady’s hands-on involvement and deep appreciation for history and culture, which helped shape the Pasig River redevelopment into a project that reflects the nation’s identity.

“Ayon kay Pangulong Marcos Jr., masugid na nakasubaybay ang Unang Ginang sa pag-unlad ng mahalagang proyekto kagaya ng Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli dahil sa kanyang pagpapahalaga sa kasaysayan at kultura ng bansa (According to President Marcos, the First Lady closely monitored the progress of this major project because of her deep appreciation for the nation’s history and culture),” she said.

The Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli project is one of the Marcos administration’s flagship initiatives aimed at transforming the 25-kilometer riverfront into a vibrant commercial, cultural, and recreational hub with parks, bike lanes, and pedestrian walkways.

The project is spearheaded by the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Pasig River Urban Development under Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, with strong backing from the First Lady.

President Marcos said the First Lady’s vision was instrumental in ensuring the Pasig River becomes “a living symbol of the country’s shared identity and sustainable future.”

To ensure continuity and coordination, President Marcos signed Executive Order No. 92 on Aug. 13, creating the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Pasig River Rehabilitation (OPAPRR).

The new office will oversee policy formulation, inter-agency coordination, and progress monitoring for the Pasig River’s rehabilitation and development. It will also submit bi-annual reports to the President on implementation status.

The OPAPRR will be headed by a Presidential Adviser with Cabinet rank and supported by the reorganized Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development (IAC-PRUD), composed of key departments.

Meanwhile, the President’s acknowledgment of the First Lady’s leadership follows his earlier praise for her work in restoring the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), which he described as “back to its old glory.”

In his recent interview with Manila Bulletin’s “The Sit Down,” President Marcos lauded the First Lady’s discipline and determination, saying, “Once she gets hold of something and decides to do it, she actually gets it done.”

He added that her legal training and management skills have been “very effective” in overseeing complex restoration efforts like the PICC, which will serve as one of the key venues for next year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.