By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Executive Order (EO) 92, creating the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Pasig River Rehabilitation (OPAPRR) to oversee and fast-track the rehabilitation, development, and restoration of the Pasig River.
Under EO 92, inked by Marcos on Aug. 13, the OPAPRR will be headed by the Presidential Adviser for Pasig River Rehabilitation (PAPRR), who will hold the rank of a Cabinet Secretary.
The office is tasked to advise the President on policy directions, monitor government initiatives, and coordinate with local government units (LGUs), government agencies, and private sector partners in implementing rehabilitation programs.
The OPAPRR is mandated to oversee the efficient and timely implementation of Pasig River rehabilitation projects, as well as monitor and harmonize policies and activities of implementing agencies.
It is also directed to ensure compliance with presidential directives related to river development; call on other government bodies and private groups for assistance; and submit bi-annual reports to the President on the status of rehabilitation efforts.
Reorganization efforts to aid in Pasig River rehabilitation
Alongside the creation of the OPAPRR, EO 92 also reorganizes the Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development (IAC-PRUD).
The council will be chaired by the PAPRR, with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chief serving as vice chairperson.
The secretaries of the departments of Environment, Public Works, Local Government, Labor, Tourism, Transportation, Finance, and Budget will serve as members of the IAC-PRUD.
Other members include the heads of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), National Housing Authority (NHA), and National Development Company (NDC).
The IAC-PRUD will continue implementing river rehabilitation programs and is authorized to accept funding through investment contracts and agreements with government and private entities to support its initiatives, according to EO 92.
Funding for the OPAPRR’s operations will be sourced from the appropriations of concerned agencies, subject to approval by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
“The convergence of concerned government agencies is necessary to rehabilitate and develop the Pasig River, a historically and culturally important waterway, and to improve water quality, restore marine life, and develop its banks, tributaries, and surrounding communities, all integral to the Administration’s renewal strategy,” according to EO 92.
“Considering the urgent and effective action required for the rehabilitation of Pasig River, there is a need to create a dedicated office to oversee and ensure the efficient, effective, and timely implementation of the rehabilitation and development of the Pasig River,” it added.
EO 92 takes effect immediately, in line with the Marcos Jr. administration’s commitment to restoring the Pasig River as a vital waterway, ecological resource, and cultural landmark in the country. (PNA)
