Pasig River rehab a failure

‘One possible explanation is that no money was to be made by improving Pasig’s water quality or removing the squatters from its banks.’

THE Asian Development Bank has declared the Pasig River rehabilitation project a failure, two-thirds into its 15 years of programmed completion in 2014.

"The program was too ambitious, and its implementation arrangements too complicated to be led by a newly established agency," ADB said in a report on the Pasig River Environment Management and Rehabilitation Sector Development Program which it primarily funded.

Among the key goals of the program is to improve the quality of the river to Class C standard by 2014. Class C standard river water is capable of sustaining aquatic life, is suitable for secondary contact sports and, after treatment, may be used for industrial processes. This is supposed to be achieved by improving the oxygen level to support life.

ADB said the targeted level of oxygen was met only between 2000-2003 and has since been declining.

"These results indicate that no progress in improving the water quality has been achieved over the last 10 years and attaining Class C water standards by 2014 is not achievable," ADB said.

As to the two goals – encouraging urban renewal within the Pasig River basin and upgrading urban areas around the river – these are as unrealizable as the

Class C water target by 2014.

The ADB said the program proved difficult to implement due to a) the complicated institutional structure and b) the wide scope of activities, and – surprise – c) "the changing political landscape."

"The success of the program depended on high-level political support which was reduced with the change in administration in 2001," ADB said.

ADB did not elaborate, but the reduced funding for the program underscores the low-priority given after the "change of administration in 2001."

The program’s original funding was $250 million, with the ADB extending $100 million as policy loan and another $75 million as investment loan for project developments in the area. The government committed $75 million as counterpart fund.

Government fiscal constraints reduced the spending to $98 million. ADB contributed $63 million, while the government contributed $35 million.

The ADB, diplomatic as always, did not identity the administration which was half-hearted in supporting the rehabilitation of the river. But there could be no other than Gloria Arroyo’s (2001 to 2010).

So why the weakened support? One possible explanation is that Mike Arroyo never had the enthusiasm for the project that Ming Ramos had. Another is that no money was to be made by improving Pasig’s water quality or removing the squatters from its banks.

Take your pick.

Reaction:

This certain problem lies on the initiative of those who are on the top to make this river as good as it was before. This is not only a problem that can be easily solved with funds or money but needs a leader to implement this solutions and alternatives. Take for example those squatters who are near the river, this problem can never be solved unless those squatters be relocated in order to prevent garbage or trashes from this people to flow again to the river that would render almost if not all the solutions useless. The government must take a stand and implement this solutions in order to attract more tourists and help the economy boost.