Description

The Pasig River, passing through the central urban section of Metro Manila, was a major waterway of historic, social, cultural, and commercial significance to the Philippines. Population growth, urbanization, and industrial activities with the concomitant results of indiscriminate discharge of untreated municipal and industrial wastewater and solid waste exceeding the river system’s absorptive capacity had made the Pasig River seriously polluted. Its riverbanks had been characterized by low grade, blighted urban development, including extensive informal settlements, deteriorating residential areas, and large tracts of derelict industrial lands. To improve the environment and realize the socioeconomic development potential of the Pasig River and adjacent urban areas, it was necessary to rehabilitate the river system, restore water quality, control wastewater discharges, and promote urban renewal along the riverbanks. Improving the Pasig River’s water quality entailed setting up integrated policy reforms covering institutional, regulatory, technical, and financial aspects of environmental management, and specific physical interventions. A sector development program modality was therefore considered by the ADB, combining a policy loan to support policy reforms, an investment loan to support the investments, and a technical assistance grant to support capacity building.

This report validates the completion report’s assessment of the program which aims to improve water quality of the Pasig River, establish environmental preservation area along the riverbanks, and strengthen management capability and capacity of selected agencies. IED overall assessment: Unsuccessful

Contents

• Project Basic Data
• Project Description
• Evaluation of Performance and Ratings
• Other Performance Assessments
• Overall Assessment, Lessons, and Recommendations
• Other considerations and Follow-up