By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
“Let us keep this river flowing with hope, with life, and with pride.”
Consistent with the government’s push towards promoting inclusive and sustainable growth that resonates with the masses, the Pasig: Bigyang Buhay Muli (PBBM) project aims to revive the historic river that cuts across the cities of Manila, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Makati, and Taguig.
It was in this vein that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. hailed the Phase 4 of the Pasig River Esplanade during its ceremonial launch on Sunday, which takes place seven months after the third phase of the Pasig River Urban Development Project was opened to the public.
Phase 4 is a 530-meter stretch of the riverside space behind Manila Central Post Office extending all the way to the Arroceros Forest Park featuring walkways, bike lanes, and commercial areas.
Marcos noted the significance of the Esplanade as an open space where people can satisfy their food cravings, lead an active lifestyle, and expand their business opportunities as part of the revitalized community that the riverside attraction has garnered over time.
President Marcos emphasized, “But beyond the sights and sounds, this project is ultimately for everyone. So people can find time to relax, to feel refreshed in the middle of a bustling city, in the middle of a busy day.”
Uncompromising progress in reviving the historic waterway
The Chief Executive, meanwhile, lauded the launch of the country’s first locally designed and fabricated electric ferry—M/B Dalaray, which is expected to begin operations by November, along with the ClearBot, a solar-powered AI-enabled robotic vessel born from the collaboration of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Clear Robotics.
He touted these initiatives as synonymous with the government’s push towards clean mobility and reduced emissions, which would pave the way for progress that does not hurt the environment.
While he recognizes that much is still left to be done, he said in his speech, “This is yet more proof that when the national government, the private sector, LGUs, and the communities collaborate and work as one, game-changing things will happen.”
The PBBM Project was recently named as one of the recipients of the 2025 Asian Townscape Award by the UN Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, citing such as a hallmark example of sustainable urban development at work.
Marcos concluded his remarks at the event by sharing further plans on the beautification of Manila, arising from his meeting with Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso on Friday, October 17:
- Planned conversion of Intramuros Golf Course into an open green space
- Rehabilitation of Plaza Calderon
- Enhancement of Lawton Underpass
Also present at the event were First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, House Speaker Faustino Dy III, Office of the Presidential Adviser for Pasig River Urban Development (OPAPRUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, ADB Country Director Andrew Jeffries, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairperson Romando Artes, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco, and Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling.
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