Inter-agency meet for San Juan River rehab
In a move considered to be the first of its kind in Metro Manila, San Juan City mayor Guia Gomez called for an inter-agency meeting among national agencies and local government units at the Sangguniang Panlungsod session hall in San Juan City to gather all available data or statistics relative to the current state or condition of the San Juan River.
The move was lauded by the participants as an initial step towards a true and genuine move to clean-up the San Juan River which is a main tributary of the Pasig River.
Mayor Gomez thanked the participants saying “the people of San Juan are happy to know that we are one in preserving and protecting the San Juan River.” “It is time to walk the talk and do what has to be done,” Gomez added.
Meanwhile, MMDA chair Francis Tolentino exhorted the participants to double their efforts and join the MMDA in its efforts to clean the San Juan river as he thanked Mayor Gomez for spearheading the move among the LGUs concerned.
San Juan River is 12 kilometers long a starts at the Congressional Avenue area in Quezon City and passes thru the cities of Manila, San Juan, and Mandaluyong and ends at Pasig River. The city of San Juan occupies only two (2) kilometres of the said river.
Former San Juan city councilor Dante Santiago who now heads the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), said the national agencies were requested to present any available statistics date about the river which includes: 1) Physical data; 2) Water quality; 3) Biodiversity; and 4) Demographic data of communities along the riverside.
Around 20 participants attended to represent the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), National Solid Waste Management Commission, Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, MMDA, Manila Bay Coordinating Office, NatIonal Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), Department of Public Works and Highways, Manila Water Company Inc., Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, Mandaluyong SWMO, and Sagip Pasig Movement. Also present were some department heads of the city.
CENRO chief Dante Santiago said the DPWH, PRRC, and Manila Water submitted their comprehensive reports and research materials.