Drilon: Success of river rehab efforts rests on local chief execs

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Franklin Drilon is supporting government efforts to remove informal settlers along waterways, saying it is the key to rehabilitating the country’s rivers and the solution to perennial flooding in Metro Manila.

Drilon, however, said the success of river rehabilitation efforts would depend on the cooperation of all the stakeholders, particularly local chief executives.

“The redevelopment of polluted rivers would only become successful with collaborative efforts among its stakeholders. I laud the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the chief executives in Metro Manila for finally collaborating to relocate 100,000 families living along the river banks and waterways,” Drilon said.

The administration has approved a program to relocate an initial 4,000 families living along the esteros in Metro Manila.

“This undertaking will not only help address perennial flooding in Metro Manila, but it will also make our rivers clean once more. The removal of all obstructions and impediments along rivers will restore the natural water flow and make the rivers a source of economic growth,” Drilon said.

He said Iloilo River is an example of a successful river rehabilitation program, with around 1,000 families living along the danger zones of the river and its tributaries relocated.

Such efforts led to the river being chosen as one of the four finalists in the 2013 Thiess International Riverprize awards, considered as the world’s most prestigious environmental award.