LOOK: ‘Cleaner’, ‘more alive’ Estero de San Miguel in Manila

Gone were the grimy days of Estero de San Miguel.

The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) on Tuesday provided a sneak peek of the much-improved canal in Manila that now shows clearer waters with ornamental plants lining up along the bank of the waterway — a sign of its revival after decades of pollution.

In a Facebook post, the PRRC expressed its gratitude to its “hardworking” River Warriors and for the “relentless” support of LIAC-Manila in rehabilitating the 2.3-kilometer tributary of Pasig River that runs behind Malacañang.

See more

“Look how cleanliness brings peace to our lives!” the PRRC said.

An INQUIRER report revealed that PRRC spent P52 million in 2014 for the restoration of Estero de San Miguel, alongside efforts to clear the banks of families residing near the waterway.

Over a hundred informal settlers who built shanties in the area were later relocated in Bulacan province.

The PRRC conducted dredging, built linear parks, planted ornamental trees, and carried out phytoremediation or the treatment of contaminated water using plants in Estero de San Miguel.

In May, the PRRC installed trash traps along the canal that were designed to block garbage entering the artificial watercourse and help volunteers in collecting the trash easily.

With the ecological initiative of the PPRC, the collective effort of different government agencies and the spirit of volunteerism, the once deteriorated body of water looks like this now:

Estero de San Miguel is one of several waterways, including Estero de Aviles in Sampaloc, Estero de Binondo, Estero de Magdalena, and Estero de Vitas, that were eyed for cleanup and restoration by the multi-sectoral drive of the PRRC.

“Let us maintain the cleanliness of Estero de San Miguel!” the PPRC urged the public. /kga