Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay on Tuesday, Nov. 25, said that dreams can turn into reality, noting that cruises could also happen along the Pasig River in the future, during the showcase of “ClearBot,” an AI-enabled, solar-powered autonomous cleanup vessel designed to collect floating solid waste and water hyacinth.
The City Government of Makati, in partnership with the Ayala Foundation, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and ClearBot, held the showcase as part of a pilot collaboration among ADB, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and Metro Manila local government units to scale technology-driven river cleanup solutions.
Using AI and real-time telemetry, these vessels help remove obstructions, strengthen flood resilience, and support long-term rehabilitation of urban waterways, including the Pasig River under the government’s Pasig River Urban Development Program.
In her speech, Binay said, “Matagal na po nating layunin ang linisin ang Pasig River (We have long aimed to clean the Pasig River). Its rehabilitation has always been a priority of the MMDA and the localities where the river passes through.”
The mayor said she believed that the Pasig River has great potential to become a tourist attraction.
“When I was still in the Senate, serving as the chairperson for tourism, I have long called on the MMDA, DOT, DENR and other concerned agencies to revitalize the Pasig River. I believe that it has always held a great potential to be a tourist attraction.
Binay recalled the river cruises along the Mekong and Yangtze in Asia, as well as the Rhine and Danube in Europe, saying they were truly enviable. However, she added, with the advent of new technologies and innovation brought by ClearBot, similar experiences could soon become possible along the Pasig River.
“Soon, cruises could also happen for our Pasig River. This innovation brought by ClearBot can turn this dream into reality,” Binay stated.
“Perhaps we will soon see a cultural and heritage conservation cruise, starting from the Circuit Contemporary Museum to Makati's heritage hub of Poblacion, to Manila's historical Intramuros because of our endeavor today,” she added.
The mayor assured the public that the city will support the initiative, citing its vision to create a progressive and sustainable Makati.
“My administration has already taken key steps like introducing a circular economy and encouraging our employees to practice reducing, reusing, recycling, and upcycling in their respective offices,” she explained.
“On behalf of the City Government of Makati, I am confident to say that you have an ally and staunch supporter in us. With all of us working hand in hand, I am certain that we can create a cleaner and clearer Pasig River,” she assured.
Meanwhile, Sidhant Gupta, CEO and founder of Clear Robotics (ClearBot), said the ClearBot vessel is 100 percent electric and solar-powered, providing zero emissions and operating silently.
He added that the vessel is also semi-autonomous, capable of capturing AI data on all waste collected. It creates a digital twin to track, analyze, and stop pollution at its source.
For the waste collected, Gupta explained, it will be transported to a local partner’s sorting facility. High-value materials will be recycled or upcycled through partner programs, while non-recyclable waste will be characterized and weighed for proper disposal.
The vessels can collect up to 500 kilograms of general waste and as much as 1,500 kilograms specifically for cleaning water hyacinth.