QUEZON CITY, Philippines, 15 December 2021 — Representatives of the #IlogPasiglahin network composed of heritage groups, mobility groups, civil society organizations, youth, and environmental organizations including Greenpeace delivered supersized greeting cards to Pasig City Hall today, asking Mayor Vico Sotto to oppose the proposed Pasig River Expressway, as a crucial step towards climate-resilient and more livable cities.

The greeting cards contain the names of more than 18,000 citizens who have signed on to the petition [2] to stop the proposed project, because of its several negative impacts on our local environment, economy, society, and heritage. 

In the spirit of the holiday season, the network members also sang Christmas carols and brought traditional Filipino parols, which signify their call for incumbent local officials and incoming leaders to “light the way towards better cities.” The groups believe that the project will destroy the Pasig River, and make Metro Manila more vulnerable to the climate crisis, as well as the on-going health crisis.

“Even at its current state, the Pasig River still plays a huge role in controlling floods, ensuring water security and urban biodiversity, and reducing the heat index in Metro Manila, especially in warmer months,” said Greenpeace Campaigner Rhea Jane Pescador-Mallari. “What we need now are local programs, projects, and policies geared toward increasing communities’ adaptive resilience in the face of the worsening climate crisis.”

For heritage groups such as Renacimiento Manila, which has been holding weekend heritage walks around the Pasig River, PAREX will erase people’s bond with the river, and generations’ appreciation of its history. “Pasig river is Metro Manila’s Pride and Glory. We should not diminish the value that it has brought to our country by putting an expressway (PAREX) on it that will result in a chain reaction of negative effects to people and our heritage. After all, it is the birthplace of the Philippines. Ilog Pasig was the reason for the gracing royalty of the Pearl of the Orient. We shall continue to take care of it and cultivate it for the benefit of our countrymen while still preserving its heritage.” Kristian Boado, Renacimiento Manila

The network also believes that rather than solving the traffic congestion in Metro Manila, it will only exacerbate it. “When SMC and TRB officials speak about PAREX, it is usually about how the expressway will reduce travel times and ease congestion. This has proven to be a false promise across cities all over the world — urban expressways lead to greater car use and ultimately to more congestion, pollution and climate change. And any temporary benefit to the small minority in motor vehicles pales in comparison to the host of negative impacts,” according to Robert Siy, Co-Convenor of the Move As One Coalition

To further raise awareness on the issue, the network also organized an online solidarity activity, “Light Up a Parol for Pasig River,” [1] where citizens are encouraged to add the “#IlogPasiglahin” message to their parols at home and post photos of them on social media. A number of small, local enterprises representative of the MSME sector are working with Greenpeace to support the cause by offering DIY parol kits sourced from the Dumagat Remontado indigenous community of Daraitan, Rizal, whether as a gift option or as a creative bonding activity with their family. The proceeds from the DIY parol kits will help fund the network’s local efforts.

The solidarity activity aims to demonstrate the concept and the benefits of the “relocalization” model, in which materials and the production are sourced locally, shortening the value chain, supporting local farmers, and making local products and services more accessible to everyone. It also intends to show the advantages of connecting communities, just as the Upper Marikina watershed is connected to Pasig River and Manila Bay are connected.

Schools, netizens, communities that would be affected by PAREX, and even some local government units including the office of Councilor Nadja Vicencio of Malabon City have joined the solidarity activity to show their support for the #IlogPasiglahin network working for climate-resilient cities. “We must support initiatives and platforms that encourage active citizenry, in order to change our cities for the better,” Councilor Vicencio said. 

In October, Greenpeace, together with Malabon Councilor Nadja Vicencio, San Juan City, AKLAT Foundation, and DepEd Malabon launched the Climate Pandemic & Response Portal [3], an online interactive platform that allows citizens, LGUs and MSMEs to collaboratively address pressing urban issues magnified by the climate and COVID pandemic crises.

Notes

[1] Light Up a Parol for Pasig River
[2] Petition to stop the proposed Pasig River Expressway 
[3] Climate and Pandemic Response Portal

Media Contact

Maria Katrina Eusebio, Digital Campaigner
Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines: [email protected] | +63 9992296451

Jefferson Chua, Campaigner
Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines: [email protected]