Pasig River project to receive 2025 Asian Townscape Award

MANILA, Philippines — The Pasig River Urban Development project has been chosen as one of the recipients of the 2025 Asian Townscape Award, a recognition given to cities and initiatives that showcase excellence in urban design and sustainable development.

In a letter to the Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development (IAC-PRUD), UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific said the project was selected after careful deliberation during the jury meeting held on Sept. 17 in Fukuoka City, Japan. 

The award is co-hosted by UN-Habitat and four other regional organizations. The recognition will be formally conferred in Hong Kong on Nov. 27.

Known as Pasig Bigyan Buhay Muli, the project is a long-term effort to restore the ecological health of the river, once considered Manila’s lifeline but later degraded by pollution and neglect. 

It aims to turn the 26-kilometer waterway into a hub for transportation, commerce, tourism and recreation while providing open spaces such as walkable and bike-friendly corridors along its banks.

The project also seeks to reconnect communities by linking key areas like Intramuros and Binondo and creating inclusive spaces for public use.

The IAC-PRUD, created under Executive Order 35, leads the initiative in coordination with local governments, private partners, and civic groups.