Polluted misimpressions about the Pasig River

I recently conducted an informal survey among several friends and asked them, “What comes to mind when you hear “Pasig River?” I asked mostly media people, and they all gave similar replies.

“It’s dirty,” “Pasig River is polluted,” “The river is full of garbage,” “The river is covered by water lilies,”“The ferries no longer operate,” “Piso Para sa Pasig.” But none of them have ever taken the ferry.

This proves that we all carry the impressions or information from 20 even 30 years ago and rely on such information to be the same three decades later without checking if they are still true today.

Whether it is about the Pasig River, an unpopular person or childhood barkada, we assume that “what was then, remains the same today.” Yes, “so many people from your past know a version of you that doesn’t exist anymore.”

Last week, I got the chance to take the MMDA Pasig River Ferry Service once again, but this time to travel the full circle. It was an answered prayer since I’ve only gone from the Guadalupe to the Quinta station in Quiapo.

The trip was an ocular study of the Pasig River, the MMDA river ferry system as part of a documentary on the Clean Rivers program of San Miguel Corporation and personal advocacy of Ramon S. Ang, chairman and CEO of SMC.

We began our trip at the Guadalupe station where we were warmly welcomed and assisted by Engr. Dan August Oro, head of the Pasig River Ferry System, and Cecile Baluran, MMDA PRFS admin officer.

The plan was to go down the Pasig River all the way to Escolta station then go back up all the way to Pinagbuhatan up to the boundary of Pasig and Laguna de Bay.

After 15 minutes, we realized how clean the Pasig River is. It was not smelly, there were no floating trash heaps or islands of garbage, very few water lilies and there were no illegal settlers on the water from Makati to Manila, although some were trying in Pasig and Taguig.

What we saw were many seniors taking in the morning sun or nagpapa-araw. Others were doing meditation exercises. In other parts people walked by the concrete embankment as a short cut to places along the Pasig River.

Every 100 meters there would be men or teenagers holding different kinds of fishing equipment. We were told that there were different kinds of fish in the river and proven to be edible even by MMDA personnel.

The average number of daily passengers is 600 to 800 because only six out of 12 boats are operational, others were being serviced or repaired. Peak hours are 7 to 8 a.m. with two-minute stopovers per station.

The Coast Guard and PSG strictly regulate craft passing by Malacañang Palace and prohibit taking images and videos in the area. Trip may be stopped or delayed when VIPs are crossing. Delays can be 30 minutes to two hours.

The San Juan River as well as the Mandaluyong Kalentong market used to be a major source of garbage but both have improved. The MMDA, DENR, Coast Guard and private sector have put in trash traps and trash scoopers.

Towards Pasig and Taguig, river traffic is caused by “tawid ilog” bancas which take students, workers and residents from one side of the river to the other. There are barges that park on the river with no lights at night.

In the Pasig-Taguig area, illegal settlers are slowly encroaching, setting up their “home along the river” using concrete filled drums for footing near the San Joaquin station.

The MMDA and the LLDA are working out a plan to include parts of Laguna de Bay in the PRFS with new and modern craft, particularly e-boats with green technology.

Every station of the Pasig River Ferry Service is strategically located. Guadalupe is near the University of Makati, BGC, Guadalupe Commercial Complex and EDSA. The Hulo station is in one of the busiest and most populated areas of Mandaluyong City.

Valenzuela station is near Makati City Hall, Manila South Cemetery and the Valenzuela Linear Park as well as many thriving small businesses.

From Makati, the ferry goes to the Lambingan station in front of Thomas Earnshaw Elementary School and Linear Park and the Lambingan bridge in Manila. Further down is the Sta. Ana station, giving commuters and visitors access to the public market, historical church and district of Sta. Ana.

Aside from commuters, the ferry also caters to students, such as the PUP station behind the Polytechnic University of the Philippines main campus. Aside from schools, the ferry has stations near public parks such as the Lawton station which is near the Arroceros mini park and the Metropolitan Theater.

Quinta station brings you to the Quinta Market, near where the original ShoeMart office used to be, the outlet for Excelente hams and FEATI University. Escolta station is near Jones Bridge, nearby is the Filipino-Chinese Friendship arch going into Chinatown.

Going up the river from Guadalupe station, there is Maybunga Station which is near the San Antonio Abad Parish built in 1572 and said to be the first area in Pasig that Spanish missionaries visited.

San Joaquin is a convenient station for those headed deep into Pasig City but wish to avoid traffic. It is also a popular area among joggers, walkers and bikers.

Kalawaan station serves Barangay Kalawaan, the Pasig City Institute of Science and Technology and the Bambang Christian Church. Before reaching Laguna de Bay, there is the San Joaquin station, a popular destination for people interested in purchasing or catching aquatic livestock.

It will take more than a village, but the Pasig River is better than ever because many people helped, companies invested. Please do your part.