Pasig River
Location
The Pasig River is an essential river system in Metro Manila as it connects two major water
bodies, namely Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay. The flow and location of the main body of Pasig
River through the urban settlements come from the upstream area, which is located in Laguna de
Bay, then through Napidan channel and extends into the Marikina River between the boundaries
of Pasig and Taguig. It also links further with the San Juan River to finally flow out to Manila
Bay. (Gorme et al., 2010)
Figure . Map of the Pasig River
Current Status
According to Climate Change Commission 2021, the 27-kilometer Pasig River, which runs
through Metro Manila, is the world's most polluting river when it comes to plastic, accounting
for 63,000 tons of plastic entering oceans from rivers per year.
Since then, Pasig River has experienced environmental strain due to rapid urbanization,
population growth, economic development and climate change in the National Capital Region
(NCR) of the Philippines (Kumar et al., 2018). Most of the households in Manila are not
connected to wastewater treatment facilities. As a result of careless discharge of untreated
household wastewater and the problematic implementation of solid waste disposal, caused the
Pasig River to be severely polluted, which has saturated its system's absorbency (Philippines:
Pasig River Environmental Management and Rehabilitation Sector Development Program,
2012).
The Philippine government is currently taking action to bring the river back to Class C
water quality. The Pasig River is classified by the DENR as Class C. According to Philippines'
Department Administrative Order 2016-08, specifies that a river system can be beneficially used
for fishery water for the propagation and growth of fish and other aquatic resources; Recreational
Water Class II- For boating, fishing, or similar activities; and for agriculture, irrigation, and
livestock watering. (Kumar et al., 2018)
Major corporations, such as San Miguel Corporation (SMC), International Container
Terminal Services, and Incorporation Group (ICTSI) Foundation, launched initiatives to help
rehabilitate the polluted river. A 5-year Pasig River rehabilitation plan by San Miguel
Corporation (SMC) was implemented in March 2023. SMC allocated 2 billion pesos for the five
years to clean up the Pasig River. 90,000 metric tons of solid waste has been extracted during the
15-kilometer San Juan River cleanup, a main tributary of the Pasig River. (Neil, 2021)
According to Ang, SMC President and CEO, since October 2023, the SMC personnel have
cleaned up the river from Sta. Mesa to Sta. Ana, San Juan to Mandaluyong, and from Dona
Imelda to Tatalon in Quezon City, which totals 3.1 kilometers of the Pasig River. Dredged areas
now reach depths of 2.5 to 4 meters, up from just 0.5 to 1.5 meters, allowing for better water
flow and the transportation of more floodwater. Additionally, because of the work, sections of
the river partially blocked by materials piled up during construction have widened. (Neil, 2021)
Legal standards
PD No. 1067, or the Water Code of the Philippines
There is a general code regarding the maintenance and regulatory policies implemented
on the rivers, dams, creeks, and waterways, which is the water code of the Philippines. This law
governs the ownership, appropriation, utilization, exploitation, development, conservation, and
protection of water resources in the Philippines. This law also establishes the legal framework for
the management, such as the permit guidelines and use of water resources, including rivers. The
code applies to all waterways inside the Philippine territory, including surface waters,
groundwater, airborne waters, and ocean waters. (Official Gazette, 1976)
RA No. 9275, or the Clean Water Act
The primary agency responsible for the implementation, execution, and, enforcement of this Act
is the The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). (Department of
Environment and Natural Resources, 2021) They are also responsible for the ongoing
rehabilitation of the Pasig river from the beginning. This law focuses on maintaining and
improving water quality standards and promoting sustainable development and use of water
resources. This law aims to protect the country's water bodies from pollution from land-based
sources such as industries and agriculture. ( AJNE.org | Asian Judges Network on Environment -,
n.d.) The Act provides for the abatement and control of pollution from land-based sources, lays
down water quality standards and regulations, and applies to water quality management in all
water bodies (REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9275, an ACT PROVIDING for a COMPREHENSIVE
WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT and for OTHER PURPOSES. CHAPTER 1 GENERAL
PROVISIONS ARTICLE 1 DECLARATION of PRINCIPLES and POLICIES, n.d.)
The PAREX Parameter
The Pasig River Expressway Project is an elevated six-lane expressway spanning 19.37 km that
crosses the Pasig River. The construction of PAREX, would potentially alleviate the prevalent
problem of traffic while also enhancing the efficacy of the nation's road transportation system by
constructing ecologically sustainable and safe infrastructure. (Taguinod et al., 2022)
According to Advocates of Science and Technology for the People (Agham), a national
organization of scientists, researchers, engineers, and science educators and advocates, “The
Pasig River Expressway is a 19.37-kilometer death sentence that would put an end to all chance
of an improved Pasig River environment.” According to Advocates of Science and Technology
for the People (Agham), PAREX could severely harm and decrease the productivity of the river,
the communities that surround it, and the National Capital Region's (NCR) overall urban
ecosystem. (Taguinod et al., 2022). Apparently, it would be just a matter of time before serious
impact could be felt by the parameter. The parameter would not just be the transportation itself
but are those whose in it.
Reference:
AJNE.org | Asian Judges Network on Environment -. (n.d.). Www.ajne.org.
https://www.ajne.org/document/clean-water-act-republic-act-no-9275
Official Gazette. (1976, December 31). Presidential Decree No. 1067, s. 1976 | GOVPH. Official
Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines.
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1976/12/31/presidential-decree-no-1067-s-1976/
Gorme, J. B., Maniquiz, M. C., Song, P., & Kim, L.-H. (2010). The Water Quality of the Pasig
River in Manila, Philippines: Current Status, Management and Future Recovery. Environmental
Engineering Research, 15(3), 173–179. https://doi.org/10.4491/eer.2010.15.3.173
Department of Environment and Natural Resources. (2021). RA 9275 – The Philippine Clean
Water Act | EMB XII. Emb.gov.ph. https://r12.emb.gov.ph/ra-9275-the-philippine-clean-water-
act/
Business World Publishing. (2021). Pasig is world’s most polluting river — study. Business
World. https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2021/06/10/374603/pasig-is-worlds-most-
polluting-river-study/
Kumar, P., Masago, Y., Mishra, B. K., & Fukushi, K. (2018). Evaluating future stress due to
combined effect of climate change and rapid urbanization for Pasig-Marikina River, Manila.
Groundwater for Sustainable Development.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352801X17301674
Taguinod, S. G., & Ramirez, L. (2022). The paradox of injustice behind Parex. Youth Advocates
for Climate Action Philippines. https://yacap.org/2022/02/22/the-paradox-of-injustice-behind-
parex/#:~:text=According%20to%20Agham%2C%20%E2%80%9CThe%20Pasig,increased
%20noise%20and%20air%20pollution.
Paronda, G. R. A., David, C. P. C., & Apodaca, D. C. (2019). IOPscience. IOP Conference
Series: Earth and Environmental Science. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-
1315/344/1/012049
