President Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos, led the inauguration of the Phase 1C of the Pasig River Urban Development Project (PRUDP) on Sunday, stating he expects construction to be completed in three years.
As part of the ongoing “Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli” project, Marcos urged Filipinos to support and participate in the efforts of the government to restore the river back to its former glory.
He added that the project also targets the usage of renewable energy and the promotion of other ecological practices that are aligned with environmental protection and conservation strategies. This would be in line with the continuation of the national agenda of sustainable development.
“Bringing the Pasig River back to life mirrors our ongoing journey towards a brighter future for our country. How well we do here will reflect our efforts in other areas of the country and how successful we are at improving and leaving the country a better place than we found it,” Marcos stated in his speech.
Pasig River’s revitalization seeks to reclaim its heritage, reflecting the unyielding resolve and bayanihan spirit of the Filipinos. Marcos continued how the reconstructions are made to “look and feel” like famous waterways in other countries such as the Seine in Paris and the Chao Phraya in Bangkok.
Marcos ended by urging Filipinos to support the advocacy to save the river in their own ways.
“Fellow Filipinos, it is a new era of revival and resurgence for our country. This is an exciting time for us all as we bring back the glory of our nation little by little,” he said.
In 2023, Marcos signed the Executive Order No. 35 to mandate and facilitate the rehabilitation of the Pasig River and nearby water systems; Phases 1A and 1B were launched on January.
The government envisions Pasig River playing a significant role in the country’s economic development, tourism, and transportation.
