LOOK: Cleanup Of Pasig River's Estero De San Miguel Continues Amidst Pandemic

On Friday, August 14, the Pasig River Coordinating and Management Office (PRCMO) posted photos on Facebook showing that the Estero De San Miguel, a 2.3-kilometer tributary of the Pasig River located in Manila City, continues to be cleaned and maintained amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The Estero, PRCMO notes, has been regularly maintained throughout the quarantine period in the National Capital Region.

Photos posted by the PRCMO show the River Warriors  (a group dedicated to protecting the Pasig River and its connecting esteros from pollution) cleaning a portion of the estero along Arlegui Street in the Quiapo district. 45 sacks of waste material were collected.

"Of the 45 sacks," PRCMO notes in the Facebook post, "35 were biodegradable plant materials from their maintenance and trimming activities, while the other 10 sacks were filled with nonbiodegradable waste such as the usual plastic products. " The office reiterated the importance of keeping our esteros clean and trash-free, especially during the rainy season as the clean waterways are vital for flood control.

Take a look at the River Warriors at work:

The Estero de San Miguel's rehabilitation officially began in 2012, with the the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission spending P52 million in 2014 for ithe project, according to a report by the Inquirer. The rehabilitiation includes dredging, phytoremediation (treatment and cleansing of the estero's contaminated water using plants), the construction of linear parks, and the planting of ornamental trees and bushes along its banks.

For more information, log on to the Pasig River Coordinating and Management Office's Facebook page.