FOR the first time in history, the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission and the Laguna Lake Development Authority joined forces on March 14 to realize the vision of a multimodal express that will traverse the Pasig River all the way to Laguna de Bay.
The meeting held at the LLDA office would give Filipinos a glimpse of a colossal project that would transform the Pasig River into a viable means of transport, providing reliable and efficient modes of water and light rail transportation to over 15 million commuters of Metro Manila and the province of Laguna.
Ultimately, the project would restore the water quality of the Pasig River to Class C level that supports and sustains aquatic life and resources±conducive for transport, recreation and tourism. It would also transform the Laguna de Bay into a focal center for sustainable development.
Various perspectives of the proposal boasted a revolutionized way of living along the Pasig River that could prove to the world that the Philippines is indeed an emerging tiger of Asia.
In addition, the Laguna de Bay ferry service would allow the riding public to circumnavigate the trading centers and tourist spots near the lake.
This historic teamup of the PRRC and LLDA became possible through the strong political will and leadership of the newly appointed PRRC Executive Director Jose Antonio E. Goitia and LLDA General Manager Jaime C. Medina under the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
“Not only will the Pasig River and the Laguna de Bay be restored to their historically pristine condition conducive for healthy living and ecotourism, the project also promises a chance for our jobless countrymen to cross the border of dire poverty,” said Goitia.
Goitia and Medina respectively appointed PRRC Deputy Director for Operations Gregorio M. Garcia and LLDA Officer-in-Charge Assistant General Manager Lennie Santos-Borja to head the PRRC-LLDA Technical Working Group that will synthesize and iron out the project details which they hope will be announced to the public by President Duterte in his upcoming State of the Nation Address.