Following the completion of the project “Application of Sediment Quality Guidelines Along Tributaries of Pasig River”, where metal contamination in the sediments of Pasig River tributaries has been identified, FEATI University and members of the University Belt Consortium will be implementing another project entitled Pasig River Stewardship Initiatives Through Science and Technology (S&T) Advocacy.

This Program intends to provide technical support to the rehabilitation of the tributary-esteros of the Pasig River, through the concerted actions of University Belt Consortium members FEATI University, Adamson University, Arellano University, Centro Escolar University, Far Eastern University, Jose Rizal University, Lyceum of the Philippines, Manuel L. Quezon University, Mapua Institute of Technology, National University, University of the East, University of Manila and University of Sto. Tomas. The UBelt Consortium is the proponent and implementing agency and the Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI) is a co-implementing agency, while the cooperating agencies include Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. (AFI).
The Program is further composed of seven individual projects that together comprise the Pasig River Stewardship Initiatives:
FEATI University’s “Field Validation and Determination of Point Sources of Heavy Metals and PCBs Contamination at Selected Esteros”, is expected to produce “quantitative data on the contamination of sediments for the specified type of pollutants concentrated in selected esteros”.
“Levels of Endocrine Disruptive Chemicals on Sediment Samples of Estero de Pandacan”, by Mapua Institute of Technology is aimed at “identifying the different Endocrine Disruptive Chemicals (EDC) in terms of xenoestrogen (phthalates, ethinylestradiol and nonylphenol) present in sediment samples of one of the Pasig River tributaries (Estero de Pandacan)”.

Adamson University’s “Biochemical and Mechanical Remediation Techniques for the Rehabilitation of Estero de Balete” endeavors “to explore the application of bio-chemical and mechanical interventions on the remediation and rehabilitation of the water and sediment of Estero de Balete. The information on the effects of locally available natural materials on the treatment of estero water will provide concrete technical and methodical foundation for all efforts to rehabilitate Pasig River into a more-balanced ecosystem by using natural minerals available in the Philippines, and provide an alternative to current technology which uses imported enzymes”.

“Limnological Assessment of Estero de Balete” by Centro Escolar University will “compare the baseline data before and after the remediation treatment of the estero to determine the effectiveness of the pollution control strategies applied”.

Objectives of Far Eastern University’s “Physicochemical and Biodiversity Study of Estero de Paco” are “to conduct an ecological study of Estero de Paco, investigate the physico-chemical and biological parameters of the estero, to investigate the level of biodiversity in the estero, correlate the physico-chemical and biological parameters of the estero, determine if there is significant variation of temporal and seasonal parameters, assess the extent of pollution and its effect on the biodiversity of the esteros and provide the environmental information that can be used to educate and warn the public against the impending hazards brought about by the degraded estero”.

“Study on Technological Management Practices of Multi-sectoral Stakeholders in Estero de Paco” by Sto. Tomas University will “analyze the interrelations of the various stakeholders, their technology management patterns, and estero resource utilization to create a management model using ecosystem approach”.

The other UBelt member-universities have defined roles as co-implementors in each of the seven aforementioned projects.

Moreover, “to promote waste minimization and waste management; and enhance the environmental awareness and responsibility of the learning institutions and the communities, as well as to provide the learning institutions and communities with technical services that include training module development, training delivery, and policy formulation”, Integrated Program on Cleaner Production Technologies (IPCT), Industrial Technology Development Institute (ITDI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and ABS-CBN Foundation, Incorporated (AFI) will work together on the project “Instilling Environmental Awareness through Waste Minimization and Waste Management among the Learning Institutions and Communities”.

The Memorandum of Agreement for said project was signed during the S&T Expo 2010 with DOST providing funds of about PhP 12 million for the program for use of the UBelt members and ITDI in the seven projects. ABS-CBN Foundation will cooperate with the implementors by aligning its on-going Pasig River initiatives and by playing a major role in the advocacy and information dissemination required by the Program. Counterpart funds are being provided by all member-universities, ITDI and ABS-CBN Foundation. The Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (PCIERD) of the DOST shall serve as the monitoring agency for the administrative and technical aspects of the Program. (DEPJ)