Century-old polluter finally gets a makeover

The century-old Paco public market, once a cultural landmark in Manila and now a major source of pollution in the Pasig River, will undergo a makeover in the next 10 years under an agreement between the city government and ABS-CBN Foundation headed by green advocate Gina Lopez.

A memorandum signed on Wednesday formalized the ongoing rehabilitation of the market as well as that of the nearby tributary known as Estero de Paco under the foundation’s Kapit-Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig (KBPIP) project.

The project earlier started with the cleanup and beautification of the estero, which for years had become a virtual garbage dump. This included the relocation of some 1,200 shanty-dwellers who lived along the banks.

Under the newly inked rehabilitation plan, the foundation will provide, among others, training programs for Paco market stall owners on solid waste management, values formation, customer service orientation and entrepreneurship.

The plan also includes the continuing relocation of informal settlers along the estero, the installation of a waste management system, the construction of additional facilities, and the development of the market as a “unique tourist destination and a one-stop shop.”

An activity center being planned would include a so-called “Palutuan” (row of cooking stalls) and a “Pasalubongan” (souvenir stalls) as part of an effort to restore the market’s old charm.

A statement from the office of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim said the project marked the first time that a public market would be “managed” by an nongovernment organization.

According to the agreement, the collection of local fees and other charges—from stall rentals to parking or trucking fees—will remain under the city government. Any future increase in fees will be subject to the city council’s approval.

The foundation can use the income generated from the “Palutuan” and “Pasalubongan” operations to fund its rehabilitation efforts, it added.