President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos led the ceremonial opening of the showcase area of the Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli (PBBM): Pasig River Urban Development project on Wednesday, January 18.

The Pasig River Urban Development showcase area which is said to be 25 kilometers long is located in Manila City.

In his speech, Marcos said they envisioned the PBBM: Pasig River Urban Development Project as a place wherein children freely play, elders relax, families perform some physical exercises, artists showcase talents, and creatives display their wares.

"We wanted it to be a permanent exhibit area of green technology “that works—from solar lights to rain harvesting facilities— sustainable practices like urban gardens," he added.

According to the President, additional Pasig Ferry service boats would be deployed and more stations would be established in order to utilize the "ready-to-use but underutilized maritime highway."

Marcos assured that the transformation would not be "cosmetic in nature", adding that changes would begin "at the very bottom."

He tasked the local government units, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and the Department of Interior and Local Government to submit "quarterly" and "yearly" reports on the project's progress.

Marcos stressed that he would "not be deterred from placing a bet on" the project.

"The presidency is about attaining the grand, and not wasting mandates on the petty, So, you do not expect any half-hearted commitments. Not from this president. In everything I do, I am all fully in. Meron din po kasing in-house advocate ang Pasig River sa aming pamilya – ang ating First Lady, a passionate champion of this river’s survival but who has been quietly doing the spadework on this project," he added.