The DENR last week disputed a report by Oxford University’s Our World Data, which estimated that the Philippines accounts for an appalling 26 percent of all ocean plastic refuse coming from rivers worldwide, with 6 percent purportedly being contributed by the Pasig River. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, of course, acknowledges that plastic pollution is still a serious problem insofar as the Pasig River is concerned, but such condition had gotten better in recent years, with the national government, local government units and civic organizations pitching in to help. Whether the report is accurate or not, we still have a long way to go in reviving the beauty and life of our dear Pasig River. The good news is, it can be done and it will be done. All that is needed is the consciousness, cooperation and the will of everyone to see this through.
I happened to witness sometime last week a tributary clean up of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, with Chairman Abalos personally leading the efforts. Discussing with him his program, he said he will embark on an all out war on river waste, engaging not just in the river clean up but attacking the source as well—the residences of the more than 12 million Metro Manilans. In his plan, he will push for recycling at the source, something that we see as a norm in other countries but still an alien practice for us Filipinos. Yet, if we can do this, as Chair Abalos said, then we have already solved half of the problem of river garbage. Also, part of his strategy will be to engage the many barangays to strictly monitor and enforce such regulations and penalize violators if need be.
Also encouraging are the many private individuals and groups doing river cleanups, as well as promoting river consciousness. You have the local Greenpeace community and other river warriors who quietly do sustained physical clean ups. We also have the local artist who does murals and events on the Pasig River, promoting its historical, cultural and environmental importance. All of these will help in one way or the other. To push the envelope even further, companies can embark on such clean ups as a form of their CSRs, especially those companies that traverse the river as part of their business processes.
But really the heart and soul that could give life to the river are the citizens themselves. The only way for this to work is to make recycling and taking care of our environment a part of our lives. Just like all other long-term macro solutions, this starts with the simple things—the small efforts and low hanging fruits that matter. Besides, the bulk of the plastic trashes, unbelievably, are candy plastic wrappers, plastic bags and single-use plastic materials.
Throwing refuse out your car is just the same as throwing garbage into the river. Simple acts can make a big difference to a plastic pollution-free world. For example, there’s no need to get plastic utensils for home deliveries of food. Bringing your own bag (BYOB) when you shop makes more sense than inconvenience.
The good thing is that such a mindset is a given insofar as the youth today is concerned. For our kids, taking care of the environment is a mantra already embedded in their persona. Tell me one instance that your son or daughter did not castigate you for being wasteful and doing harm to the environment. And rightly so, as it was our generation, and the generation before us, that did the most damage to our environment; then we want to leave it to our children at the point of no return.
It is not so much pronounced, but the maturity of development of cities can be seen by the state of the rivers and other bodies of water that run through them. Cities like Tokyo, Boston, London, Savannah, Shanghai, Seoul and many more take pride in their rivers and bodies of water, making them a landmark of their culture and their development. Manila, at one point in our history, was the Venice of the East. We still can reclaim that reputation that made Manila a famous tourist attraction. We just need the genuine consciousness, cooperation and will of everyone to make it happen.
The author can be reached via thomas_orbos@sloan.mit.edu