FIRST, there was Estero de Paco; then, Estero de San Miguel. This time around, the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) is looking to build a linear park along two creeks it is cleaning, one in Manila and one in Quezon City.
The PRRC said on Monday it will begin the construction of 145 linear meters along Ermitaño Creek, Quezon City and 1,266 linear meters along Estero de la Reina, Manila after its easement recovery operations.
PRRC’s river patrol teams have been dismantling and removing the informal settlements to make the construction of the linear park possible.
According to PRRC, such rehabilitation strategies can transform any polluted waterway into an environmental preservation area (EPA).
Among its EPA success stories are Estero de Paco and Estero de San Miguel in Manila.
“Not only we will be able to get rid of the sources of pollution, but we will also improve the living conditions of our communities for they can soon enjoy paved and lighted walkways along Ermitaño Creek and Estero de la Reina,” said PRRC Executive Director Jose Antonio E. Goitia.
To date, PRRC has built 41.15 kilometers of linear parks, resettled almost 19,000 informal-settler families and dismantled 508 privately owned structures at no cost to the government.
PRRC also lauded the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and local government of Manila and QC for their assistance.
Image credits: PRRC