75-meter linear park opens along Pasig River tributary

MANILA, Philippines - The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) Monday opened a 75-meter long linear park along the Pasig River on Barangay Poblacion in Makati City.

The PRRC officials led by Executive Director Ramil Tan, also unveiled solar powered street lamps which would light up the park at night.

After opening the linear park for the use of the barangay’s residents and other visitors, the PRRC officials also threw “mudballs” on the river.

According to the PRCC, “mudballs” are fist-sized balls whose technology originated from Japan.

“Mudballs” are made of dried mud into which effective microorganisms were activated and kneaded with molasses and rice hull.

The PRRC said “mudballs” are used to clean up bodies of water such as rivers, lakes and oceans, where there are concentrated deposits of sludge and slime.

“One of those effective microorganisms is lactobacilli that filter out the bad bacteria in dirty water. The garden soil serves as the “house” of the good bacteria where they can multiply. The molasses serve as the food of the good bacteria so they can multiply even faster,” the PRRC said in a statement.

Meanwhile, outgoing Makati City Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña lauded the PRRC’s move to open the linear park and clean up a portion of the polluted river.

“Karangalan ko po kayong samahan sa pagpapasinaya ng bagong Poblacion Linear Park. Kukunin ko na rin po ang pagkakataong ito upang ipaabot ang taos pusong pasasalamat ng mga taga-Makati sa Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission o PRRC sa ilalim ng pamunuan ni Ginoong Ramil Tan, na siyang nanguna sa pagsasa-ayos at pagpapaganda ng bahaging ito ng ating komunidad. Maraming-maraming salamat po sa paglalaan ninyo ng inyong lakas at panahon para sa proyektong ito,” he said.

Peña also urged the residents of Barangay Poblacion to sustain the drive started by the PRRC to clean-up a portion of the polluted Pasig River that runs through the barangay.

"Mga kaibigan, gaya po ng pagbabagong ating itinulak sa sistema sa gobyerno ng Makati, umaasa din po akong patuloy nating isusulong ang pagbabagong sinimulan ng Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission para  na rin sa ikabubuti nating lahat, at lalo’t higit alang-alang sa kapakanan ng susunod na henerasyon—ang henerasyon ng ating mga anak,” he said.