Roxas visits rehabilitated ‘esteros’Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Mar Roxas headed over to Estero de Paco and Estero de San Miguel to see the rehabilitation done in these esteros.

Roxas was accompanied by AFI managing director and concurrent Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission chair Gina Lopez to discuss what DILG can do to further help in the cause.

“I want to show him [Roxas] Estero de Paco. Sobrang ganda talaga. After four years, iyong crime rate bumaba, the economy has gone up, masaya na ang mga tao doon, and most importantly, walang baha doon noong habagat,” said Lopez. “I wanted to show him what we’re doing so that we could get support in cleaning the other estero because we really have to relocate and the government has to make a really strong stand.”

In a report early this year, DILG, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) vowed to relocate more than 20,000 families that reside near the waterways of Metro Manila before the rainy season.

The rehabilitation of Estero de Paco and Estero de San Miguel is a joint effort by the PRRC and AFI’s Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig in partnership with the MMDA, the DPWH and the National Housing Authority. They are also working with water concessionaires Manila Water and Maynilad, and donors from the private sector.