The Pasig River Urban Development Project is rooted in three main principles: connectivity, commercial viability, and community engagement. This project won’t be a simple coastal clean-up by the riverbanks but aims to uplift social, economic, environmental, and settlement conditions while maintaining sustainable practices. To achieve all this, DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, the project’s chairperson, shared his plans.

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Achieving connectivity is as simple as making transportation seamless to the public. Whether you plan on cycling, walking, or hopping on a ferry, getting from one place to another is envisioned to be much simpler than before. “This 25-kilometre stretch connects both large bodies of water, and it’s necessary to develop a people-centred thoroughfare by the water that prioritises pedestrians, cyclists, and commuters,” Acuzar shared with Tatler.

Commercial viability will come naturally as the development integrates commercial spaces into the design, allowing small to medium enterprises to set up shop and thrive. “These spots will create several pockets of economic activity and promote local economic dynamism by creating new jobs, spurring new businesses, and overall increased productivity in the established spaces,” Acuzar continued.

Finally, community engagement was attainable through revitalising riverside culture—fostering the idea of bayanihan to urge the public to care for the Pasig River’s ecosystem actively. “We wish to encourage a collective sense of responsibility to protect our environment. Aside from this, the housing component to be built at both ends of the development—one at the PPA property in Manila and the other at the LLDA property in Rizal—also highlights our people-centred strategy,” the DHSUD Secretary said.

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Paulo Alcazaren, the project’s architect, shared his vision in a social media post, “We can turn the 50 kilometres of Pasig’s riverbanks into a pedestrian and bike-friendly linear park with an area larger than Rizal Park. Why not?” Once completed, the Esplanade will give communities better access to transportation, recreation, and mixed-use development amenities while preserving the river's historical and cultural value.

The walkway situated behind the Manila Post Office boasts neoclassical styles to match the building adjacent to it. The esplanade’s design is projected to vary depending on the surrounding area. “The post office was done in a neoclassic style, so we had Victorian lamps set up around the area. In other areas where that isn’t present, we will segue into more neutral styles,” shared Alcazaren.

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As the approval of the Pasig River Expressway (PAREX) remains uncertain, Acuzar assured that its construction—if greenlit—would not undermine rehabilitation. “The IAC-PRUD will remain focused on the planning and implementing the Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli project… There will be a comprehensive masterplan and whole-of-government cooperation involved in our pursuit of transforming the river into a development that prioritises the well-being of people,” he said. 

Alcazaren on the other hand, expressed his disapproval for the highway—believing it to be counterintuitive to the rehabilitation. “The PAREX will compromise the heritage structures and sites along the river. There are several all the way from Manila to Makati and beyond… Can you also imagine walking on the esplanade under the shadow of a highway? I don’t think it’s a good idea,” Alcazaren said.

In addition to the main plan, there are also several efforts to rehabilitate nearby bodies of water like the Estero Tripa de Gallina that flow into the Pasig River. “The Metro Manila Development Authority and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources are looking into restoring these waterways. Several local government units have also expressed interest in leading the development of Pasig River tributaries within their jurisdiction,” Acuzar shared.

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The project has also prompted the government to relocate many informal settlers residing on the Pasig River’s banks to one of two housing developments as part of the administration’s flagship housing project—the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino, the 4PH Program.

While the plans look promising, the project is an arduous task. There is also the question of longevity and sustainability. Acuzar noted the overwhelming amount of government, private sector, and public support to achieve this vision. For instance, the esplanade alone has garnered plenty of foot traffic from the public, helping spread awareness and appreciation towards the Pasig River. Already, the notion of a dying river is slowly being changed into a more favourable one—helping people see what it could be, not just what it is now. The project has also received several donation pledges from the private sector to aid in funding and development.

“With continuous support from the different government agencies and vigorous collaboration with our private sector partners, the walkway is to be substantially completed in two years,” Acuzar said.

The Pasig River’s present may look grim, but its future is starting to look up through the Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli programme. Historically, the river played a crucial role in our nation’s trade and transportation. Restoring it to its former glory seems fitting.

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