Housing Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar is tasked not only to clean up and implement the full rehabilitation of the historic Pasig River, but also to maximize its economic potentials, and address safe and decent homes for informal settlers along the waterways.
“The issuance of EO 35 is like hitting many birds with one stone. It will trigger huge positive impacts to several sectors like housing, transportation and even tourism,” he said.
The Chief Executive through EO No. 35 designated Acuzar, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development secretary, to head the Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development (IAC-PRUD)
“The rehabilitation of Pasig River could serve as a catalyst for economic opportunities along its banks from Manila to Pasig City,” Acuzar said.
While the presidential order primarily calls for the full rehabilitation of Pasig River waterways, its implementation would also secure the safety of thousands of the informal settler families living along the riverbanks, promote mixed-use development and tourism to trigger economic opportunities, he stressed.
“The activation of the inter-agency council would really help expedite our actions and synchronize all efforts of various concerned agencies to bring back the old glory of Pasig River,” he said.
DHSUD has already laid out initial plans covering pilot areas along the portions of Pasig River in Manila in coordination with some of the IAC-PRUD member-agencies, he said.
Along with DHSUD, its member-agencies shall formulate a Pasig River urban development plan to serve as the blueprint for the full rehabilitation of the river with the end view of realizing its full potential for mixed-use development, transportation, recreation, tourism and sustainable human settlement, taking into consideration its historic and cultural value.