A night at the Pasig
Last Wednesday evening, the riverside behind the Manila Post Office saw a level of activity not seen in close to a century. Boats were scurrying up and down the river. The Jones Bridge was lit and festooned for a national event. The muelles (quays) from there to just before the Binondo bridge were filled with people. Music wafted through the air, and local elite as well as the hoi polloi promenaded up and down the esplanade enjoying the famed Manila sunset.
The event was the launch by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos of the Pasig River Urban Development (PRUD) project and specifically its pilot area. This is a half-kilometer stretch of the planned Pasig River Esplanade, which is part of the first section of a total of nine, projected to cover the whole 25-kilometer stretch of the Pasig River.
The showcase section, done in the neo-classic style to match the Jones Bridge and the pre-war Manila Central Post Office building, is the first product of the new Pasig River Council. Technically the council is known as the Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development (IAC-PRUD). It was set up by President Marcos last July after he issued EO 35 for its creation with a mandate to “facilitate and ensure the comprehensive rehabilitation of the Pasig River… and nearby water systems.”
The council is made up of 15 government agencies and headed by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD). These include the MMDA (co-lead), DENR, DPWH, DILG, DOT, DOTr, DOF, DBM, NHCP, NCCA, PPA, PCG, LLDA, and TIEZA.
DHSUD head honcho Jerry Acuzar asked to see me in October to act as one of their consultants, given my experience with the Iloilo Esplanade and other similar waterside projects in the Philippines and Singapore. He informed me that I would be working with another firm, WTA, which is led by a friend, the noted architect and urban designer William Ti. I said yes because of this and when he explained that a major part of the vision was to make the whole stretch a walkable and bikeable linear park.
The president reiterated as much and more in his speech that evening. He emphasized that the overall program, called “Pasig Bigyan Buhay Muli” (PBBM) was more than just a beautification exercise and that the goal was “to transform the Pasig River into a center of economic activity, tourism, and promote transportation connectivity in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces.”
He further acknowledged that the driving force behind the program was the support of the First Lady. He also called out Sec. Acuzar for successfully coming up with the first real product of this program in such a short time.
The inaugurated area is part of the initial phase that will provide over three kilometers of linear park with bike lanes, pedestrian paths, and convenience kiosks (with clean toilets). This will loop back eastward after reaching Fort Santiago and run down the Binondo and Escolta muelles before crossing to the Quinta Market. There a pedestrian bridge designed by William Ti (one of only two currently spanning the river, hopefully more) will reconnect passersby with the south bank and the Arroceros District before reconnecting with the quay behind the Post Office.
The heritage Post Office is being repaired and may be redeveloped into a hotel that will be sure to further boost the area’s attractiveness for tourists and locals alike. The president and Sec. Acuzar referred to the aspect of the program that seeks to acknowledge and conserve the cultural heritage value of the river and numerous historic structures and sites that line its banks.
Related to this, it was wonderful to bump into NCCA head Ino Manalo and UNESCO Philippines Secretary General Ivan Henares. I’ve known both a long time and they were excited to see the potential for a program, vis-à-vis heritage conservation, versus other recent proposals that would have compromised a lot of what the storied Pasig contained and kept sacred.
The program also emphasizes the ecology of the river and its general importance for environmental sustainability. I was happy to see Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga of the DENR and chatted briefly about her department’s initiatives nationwide.
I spoke to DHSUD Usec. Henry Yap, a former classmate at UP Architecture and fellow environmental planner. He brought me up to speed about the administration’s 4PH housing program. Essential to the PRUD are two new housing estates to be built at either end of the Pasig, which are meant to provide for those displaced as the river is developed to its full potential.
The wide esplanade was filled with guests, including the business elite, who have been asked to participate by adopting sections of the river. Kevin Tan of Megaworld, JAZA of Ayala, Hans Sy of SMDC, and Mike Toledo representing MVP were among those in attendance.
The participation of the LGUs is also essential for the program and I chatted a bit with mayors Binay, Abalos, and Zamora of Makati, Mandaluyong and San Juan, respectively. The President also noted that the council and the program will be “a people-centered, community-driven development, with ideas crowdsourced from experts and carried out with political will.”
The President and First Lady walk the esplanade with over 200 select guests. Photo by Jun Mendoza
DILG head Ben Hur Abalos, his wife, Mandaluyong Mayor Menchie Abalos, Manny Villar and Rep. Cynthia Villar, Senate leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Rep. Nancy Binay, with Atty. Mike Toledo, and PCG head Admiral Gil Gavan behind. Photo by Jun Mendoza
Standing (from left) are author Paulo Alcazaren; Ivan Henares, UNESCO Philippines head; DILG chair Benhur Abalos and wife, Mayor Menchie Abalos; seated is DHSUD Sec. Jerry Acuzar. Photo by Jun Mendoza
Anton San Diego, Lizzie Zobel, Sen. Loren Legarda, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala. Photo by Jun Mendoza
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, Lance Gokongwei. Photo by Jun Mendoza
Kevin Tan with wife Michelle. Photo by Jun Mendoza
The President and First Lady walk the esplanade with over 200 select guests. Photo by Jun Mendoza
DILG head Ben Hur Abalos, his wife, Mandaluyong Mayor Menchie Abalos, Manny Villar and Rep. Cynthia Villar, Senate leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Rep. Nancy Binay, with Atty. Mike Toledo, and PCG head Admiral Gil Gavan behind. Photo by Jun Mendoza
Standing (from left) are author Paulo Alcazaren; Ivan Henares, UNESCO Philippines head; DILG chair Benhur Abalos and wife, Mayor Menchie Abalos; seated is DHSUD Sec. Jerry Acuzar. Photo by Jun Mendoza
Anton San Diego, Lizzie Zobel, Sen. Loren Legarda, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala. Photo by Jun Mendoza
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, Lance Gokongwei. Photo by Jun Mendoza
Kevin Tan with wife Michelle. Photo by Jun Mendoza
CLOSE
After a few more finishing touches next week, the completed section of the Pasig Esplanade will be open to the public. The first phase covering the stretches from the Del Pan to the Quiapo bridges should be completed within the year. Certain sections up and down the river will also be works in progress starting this year. The MMDA is concurrently working to improve the ferry system, so transport and mobility options are afoot.
See you at the Pasig soon!