The Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission caught a fresh tilapia – which weighed over three kilograms with a length of 20.5 inches – from the Estero de San Miguel, a tributary of the Pasig River, last week.
PRRC Executive Director Jose Antonio E. Goitia said it was a good sign that life has returned to the river and its tributaries.
Goitia also emphasized it is also due to the PRRC’s strategic rehabilitation of the waterways.
PRRC River Warriors were conducting their regular clean-up operations in Estero de San Miguel, a 2.3-kilometer tributary of the Pasig River located in Manila by P. Casal Bridge, when the surface of the waterway ruptured and a huge fish leapt into the air, to their surprise.
“If we continue to work together in cleaning our waterways and surroundings, more aquatic resources will thrive in these bodies of water, and we could eventually have a free source of food,” Goitia said.
Still, the PRRC advised the public to be careful with catching fish from the river, as the fish might still contain traces of toxic chemicals harmful to their health.
The tilapia was sent to PRRC’s environmental management division for tissue testing.
Meanwhile, the PRRC Task Force Water Hyacinth has removed over 4,120 sacks of water hyacinth from Metro Manila’s main waterway.
According to the Task Force, the new skimmer boat improved the collection capacity of their operations.
“Based on our operations so far, we collect an average of 500 sacks of water hyacinths,” shared Task Force team leader Niño Gutierrez.
The removal of water hyacinth and other solid waste along the Pasig River has kept the river navigable for vessels and ferry services.
For the past two years, in the absence of a skimmer boat and appropriate funds for water hyacinth clearing operations, Goitia had to personally pay for the rental of tug boats just to clear carpets of water hyacinths across the Pasig River.
“Water hyacinth proliferation is no longer a problem in the Pasig River. It’s a natural phenomenon that can be managed as shown by the operation results of our Task Force,” he said.
“This year, we received no complaint that vessels could not pass the river because of the water hyacinths. Our hard work has paid off,” he added.
A 2008 study revealed that one water hyacinth can quickly reproduce and increase to a population of 750 within days.
Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said they are still observing and monitoring the efficiency of the skimmer boats.
“We plan to add more machines for the Pasig River and Laguna Lake, etc. if the Task Force will find the skimmer boat cost-effective,” said Cimatu.
