Pasig River (Ilog Pasig) : Coordinates
Pasig River (Ilog Pasig) : Coordinates
Pasig River (Ilog Pasig) : Coordinates
Country Philippines
Tributaries
- left Pateros-Taguig
River,San Juan River
Cities Manila, Makati
City,Mandaluyong
City, Pasig City
- coordinat 14°31′33″N 121°0
es 6′33″E
- elevation 0 m (0 ft)
- coordinat 14°35′40″N 120°5
es 7′20″E
Length 27 km (17 mi)
Basin 570 km2 (220 sq mi)
The Pasig River is technically a tidal estuary in that the flow direction depends upon
the water level difference between Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay. During the dry
season, the water level in Laguna de Bay is low and the flow direction of the Pasig
River depends on the tides. During the wet season, when the water level of Laguna
de Bay is high, flow is normally from Laguna de Bay towards Manila Bay.
Contents
[hide]
1 Geography
o 1.1 Tributaries
and canals
o 1.2 Bridges
o 1.3 Landmarks
2 Geology
o 2.1 Tidal flows
o 2.2 Flooding
3 History
o 3.1 Pollution
increase
o 3.2 Rehabilitation
efforts
4 References
5 See also
6 External links
[edit]Geography
Pasig River winds generally north-westward for some 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) from
the Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines, to Manila Bay, in the southern
part of the island of Luzon. From the lake, the river runs between Taguig City,
and Taytay, Rizal, before entering Pasig City. This portion of Pasig River to the
confluence with the Marikina River tributary is known as the Napindan River or
Napindan Channel. From there, the river then forms the common border
between Makati City to the south and Pasig City, followed by Mandaluyong City to
the north. The river then sharply turns northeast forming the border between
Mandaluyong and Manila before turning again westward, joining its other major
tributary San Juan River, and then following a sinuous path through the center of
Manila before emptying into the bay.
The whole river and most portions of its tributaries lie entirely within Metro Manila,
the metropolitan region of the capital. Isla de Convalescencia (
14°35′26″N 120°59′20″E), the only island dividing the Pasig River, can be found in
Manila and it is where the Hospicio de San Jose is located.
Within the city of Manila, there are various esteros or canals that criss-cross through
the city and connect with Tullahan River in the north and Parañaque River to the
south.
[edit]Bridges
Another view of the Pasig from Intramuros, this time, showing the Jones Bridge and
the Manila post office.
There are a total of 13 bridges that cross the river. Crossing the Napindan Channel
in Pasig City is the Bambang Bridge. Downstream is the C-5 Road Bridge
connecting the cities of Makati and Pasig. The Guadalupe Bridge between Makati
and Mandaluyong carries Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, the major highway of
Metro Manila, as well as the Blue Line (Line 3) of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT).
The Makati-MandaluyongBoundary Bridge is another bridge that connects the two
cities downstream and forms the end of Makati Avenue. Sevilla Bridge
connects Manilaand Mandaluyong.
The easternmost bridge in Manila is the Lambingan Bridge in the district of Sta. Ana,
followed by the Padre Zamora (Pandacan) Bridge betweenPandacan and Santa
Mesa, which also carries the southern line of the Philippine National Railways (PNR).
The Mabini Bridge (formerly Nagtahan Bridge) provides a crossing for the Nagtahan
Avenue, part of the C-2 Road. Ayala Bridge carries Ayala Boulevard and connects
Isla de Convalescencia to both banks. Further downstream are the Quezon
Bridge from Quiapo to Ermita the LRT Yellow Line (Line 1) bridge fromCentral
Terminal Station to Carriedo Station, McArthur Bridge from Divisoria to Ermita, and
the Jones Bridge from Binondo to Ermita. The last bridge near the mouth of Pasig
River is the Roxas Bridge from Tondo to Port Area, formerly known as the Del Pan
Bridge.
[edit]Landmarks
Pasig River's location and the subsequent growth of Manila and the surrounding
settlements has made the river a focal point for development and historical events.
The foremost landmark on the banks of the river is the walled district of Intramuros,
located near the mouth of the river on its southern bank and was built by the Spanish
colonial government in the 16th century. Further upstream is the Hospicio de San
Jose, an orphanage located on Pasig's sole island, the Isla de Convalescencia. On
the northern bank stands Malacañang Palace, the official residence of the President
of the Philippines. Also on Pasig River's northern bank and within the Manila district
of Sta. Mesa is the main campus of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
In Makati City, along the southern bank of Pasig, is the Sta. Ana Racetrack and the
Rockwell Commercial Center, a high-end office and commercial area containing the
Power Plant Mall. At the confluence of Pasig River and Marikina River is the
Napindan Hydraulic Control Structure, which regulates the flow of water from the
Napindan Channel.
[edit]Geology
Landsat image of Manila Bay-Laguna de Bay area; Pasig River can be seen on the
right.
[edit]Tidal flows
Pasig River is technically considered as a tidal estuary. Towards the end of the
summer or dry season (April and May), the water level in Laguna de Bay reaches to
a minimum of 10.5 meters. During times of high tide, the water level in the lake may
drop below that of Manila Bay's resulting into a reverse flow of seawater from the bay
into the lake. This also results into increased pollution and salinity levels in Laguna
de Bay at this time of the year.[1]
[edit]Flooding
The Pasig River is vulnerable to flooding in times of very heavy rainfall and the
Marikina River tributary is the main source of the floodwater. The Manggahan
Floodway was constructed to divert excess floodwater from the Marikina River into
the Laguna de Bay, which then serves as a temporary reservoir. By design, the
Manggahan Floodway is capable of handling 2,400 cubic meters per second of water
flow, although the actual flow is about 2,000 cubic meters per second. To
complement the floodway, the Napindan Hydraulic Control System (NHCS) was built
in 1983 at the confluence of the Marikina River and the Napindan Channel to
regulate the flow of water between Pasig River and the lake. [2]
[edit]History
[edit]Pollution increase
After World War II, massive population growth, infrastructure construction, and the
dispersal of economic activities to Manila's suburbs left the river abandoned. The
banks of the river attracted informal settlers and remaining factories dumped their
wastes into the river, making it effectively a huge sewer system. [3]
The increasing pollution in the river was first noticed in the 1930s when it was
observed that fish migration from Laguna de Bay diminished. People ceased using
the river's water for laundry in the 1960s and ferry transport declined. By the 1970s,
the river started to give offensive smells and in the 1980s, fishing in the river became
nonviable. Pasig River was considered biologically dead in the 1990s. [3]
[edit]Rehabilitation efforts
Efforts to revive the river began in December 1989 with the help
of Danish authorities. The Pasig River Rehabilitation Program (PRRP) was
established, with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as the main
agency with the coordination of the Danish International Development Assistance
(DANIDA).[4]
In 1999, President Joseph Estrada signed Executive Order No. 54 establishing
the PRRC to replace the old PRRP with additional expanded powers such as
managing of wastes and resettling of squatters.[4]