Atienza says Singaporean experience on river clean up, a good model for Pasig River rehab

MANILA, July 4 (PNA) -- Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jose "Lito" Atienza is seriously considering the possibility of applying the Singaporean experience in restoring the Pasig River to its pristine glory.

“While the issues in the Pasig River are much bigger in magnitude and more complex, there are important lessons we can learn from the experiences of Singapore, especially in the relocation of riverbank structure, provision of sewerage facilities, dredging and riverbank development,” Atienza said.

Atienza said although the problems of the Singapore and Pasig Rivers are not of the same magnitude, the Philippines could use many, if not all, of the approaches used by the Singaporean government in the clean up of its river. "The cleaning of the Singapore river hastened commercial development along the river and was a key factor to Singapore’s overall economic progress," he said.

Atienza was in Singapore from June 23 to 27 to attend an international water summit. He made the observations following a river tour and a detailed briefing on the clean up of Singapore River.

The river clean up in Singapore was undertaken from 1977 to 1986 and involved the relocation of 28,000 families, 4,030 cottage industries, 1,090 livestock farms, 5,290 vendors and wholesalers, 770 boats and 64 boatyards. The nine-year clean up also required the development of sewerage for 21,000 premises, dredging, and riverbank development.

The DENR chief said the clean-up and rehabilitation of Pasig River also involves housing, resettlement and provision of livelihood to those who would be relocated. Transport development and riverbank development are likewise key ingredients in the Singapore clean up experience, which are also involved with the Pasig River rehabilitation.

The development of sewerage along the Singapore River is similar to what the Pasig River rehabilitation needs. However, the quantity of pollution that the Pasig River clean up has to address is larger in magnitude considering Metro Manila’s bigger population.

Studies show that a huge portion of Pasig River’s pollution comes from domestic wastes. Moreover, 90 percent of domestic waste water discharges in Metro Manila are inadequately treated domestic sewage that includes human and animal wastes.

“The fact that only 60 percent of our sources of sewerage would be covered by the two concessionaires in Metro Manila by the year 2022 means that 40 percent of sewerage sources will still pollute the Pasig River,” Atienza said.