Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 30) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed an executive order (EO) creating an inter-agency council that will facilitate the rehabilitation of the Pasig riverbanks and water system.
Signed on July 25 but made public on July 28, EO No. 35 directs the Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development to craft an urban development plan that will develop the Pasig Riverbanks and nearby areas into a sustainable community accessible to transportation, recreation and tourism.
The inter-agency council is also tasked to create a “shelter plan for massive relocation of informal settlers” living along the Pasig Riverbanks and to submit a quarterly report on the rehabilitation process.
The inter-agency council is chaired by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development secretary.
The Metro Manila Development Authority chairperson is the vice chairperson of the council, while the secretaries of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Department of the Interior and Local Government are members.
“The Pasig River holds immense historical and cultural significance as a vital gateway which facilitates trade, transportation, and communication, and serves as a prominent landmark and tourist attraction,” the EO read.
“There is an urgent need to rehabilitate and enhance the quality of life along the banks of the Pasig River, its tributaries and surrounding communities,” it added.
