MANILA, Philippines- Ikinatuwa ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang nagpapatuloy na rehabilitasyon ng Pasig River kung saan ang proyekto na pinangangasiwaan ni Unang Ginang Liza Araneta-Marcos ay pumasok na sa 3rd phase nito.
Pinangunahan kasi ni Pangulong Marcos, Pebrero 17, araw ng Huwebes ang 3rd phase sa Plaza Mexico, Riverside Drive sa Intramuros.
Sinabi ng Pangulo na siya ay “really surprised and happy to know” na ang Pasig River Esplanade ay naging tanyag na lugar para sa mga bisita kung saan ang “simple yet difficult” na misyon na ibalik ang Pasig River sa dati nitong kabantugan ay nagpapatuloy.
Sa naging pangangasiwa ni Unang Ginang Liza Araneta-Marcos sa rehabilitation project, sinabi nito ang importansya ng Pasig River sa pagkakakilanlan ng mga Filipino.
“This river has served Manila as a lifeblood long before our generation was conceived. It has played the role in our nation’s history in terms of commerce, in terms of transportation, as source of food and water,” ang sinabi pa ni Pangulong Marcos sa kanyang naging talumpati sa isinagawang launching event.
“If one will read Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, Jose Rizal depicted a Pasig River that was vibrant, full of life… because in its waters, we see reflections of our dreams and our history, and at times, we have to admit, our share of neglect. But we are changing that,” dagdag na wika nito.
Sa kabilang dako, inaasahan naman na makalilikha ang Phase 3 ng Pasig River Esplanade ng 2,000 square meters ng ‘open activity space’ sa kahabaan ng Plaza Mexico, na tamang-tama para sa tanawin o pamamasyal. Magkokonekta ito sa umiiral na Pasig River Esplanade sa makasaysayang Fort Santiago.
Kabilang naman sa susunod na stage ay ang produksyon ng amphitheater, ornamental landscaping, at isang 16-meter sa 240-meter walkway para sa mga pedestrian at mga nagbibisikleta sa Maestranza boardwalk.
“This will create a safer, more beautiful, and expansive area for public events, for gatherings, for leisurely walks. More than a development project, it symbolizes unity— honoring our past while embracing progress,” ang sinabi ni Pangulong Marcos.
“With the launching of Phase 3 of the Pasig River Urban Development Project, I am certain more stories and core memories will be witnessed by this place. I am thrilled to see the social and economic development of a fully revitalized Pasig River and what it will mean for Metro Manila once again. Our mission is simple but it is difficult: to bring back the river to its pristine state [and] make it a vibrant waterway once again for life, for culture, and for mobility,” dagdag niya. Kris Jose
