By Pepper Marcelo

Once upon a time, the Pasig River was a vibrant and vital waterway in Metro Manila. Historically, its importance was so essential that the Spaniards constructed the Walled City of Intramuros at its mouth.

But for the younger generation, the Pasig River has been known simply as a massive sewage system. Murky waters, an unbearable stench and decrepit shacks along its banks have characterized its continual decline. Many observers, losing hope for its renewal, have labeled the stream “biologically dead.”

There have been several efforts to revive the once-proud passage. A Pasig River Rehabilitation Program was established in 1989, but it wasn’t until former President Joseph Estrada signed Executive Order No. 54 in 1999 that the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) was created. One of its tasks was to “ensure that the waterway is rehabilitated to its pristine conditions conducive to transport, recreation and tourism.”

PRRC’s collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural resources (DENR) has resulted to noticeable improvements over time. A widespread crackdown on illegal dumping of garbage and other assorted wastes along the river, as well as unclogging and cleaning the various tributaries, esteros, and creeks leading up to it, has been instituted. The water is also being treated with catchments, filtration systems and bioremediation (helpful bacteria) to restore it to its original state.

In addition, almost 8,000 households along the riverbanks, which are blamed for up to 60 percent of the garbage dumped in the river, have been relocated to various sites in Rizal and Cavite. PRRC expects a total of 10,000 households will be removed from the riverbanks by the end of the year.

“It’s much better now than it used to be, but there are still problems hounding the river, such as pollution, both solid and chemical, and human excrements,” says University of Santo Tomas Professor and historian Manuel Noche. “Compared to the past when the river was declared biologically dead, the river today is in a better condition.”

With the continued rehabilitation of the Pasig River, a tourism component has been introduced to enhance its earning potential for the surrounding communities. The Philippine Tourism Authority (PHILTOA), an association of travel operators whose purpose is to promote in-bound and domestic tourism, has launched “Beyond the Usual” campaign, which encourages tourists to go beyond the typical sightseeing and vacation activities. One of its attractions is the Pasig River Ferry Tour.

“The potential of the river mirrors the potential of the country. It might take a generation to make it happen, but the river, and the country, can be transformed,” said Tourism Secretary Ace Durano during launch of “Beyond the Usual” last June 2009.

“The Philippines is one of the countries that don’t boast of a river tour. Bangkok, Malaysia, New York, Boston, Paris, Hamburg, Amsterdam – they have a river or canal tour,” says Cesar Cruz, head of PHILTOA who, in partnership with the DOT, devised “IT” Philippines as the greater, all-encompassing banner to promote a wholly unique alternative to experiencing the country in a different, more adventurous manner.

Currently, there are a total of 16 operational stations for the Pasig River Ferry Service, with 10 main, including: Plaza Mexico, Escolta, Lawton, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), Sta. Ana, Lambingan, Valenzuela, Hulo, Guadalupe and San Joaquin and an additional 7 “satellite” stations: Pineda, Bambang, Kalawaan, Pinagbuhatan-Acasia, Nagpayong, with Napindan and a second Sta. Ana station currently in construction.

At present, there are six ferry boats. Although referred to as a ferry, the vehicle is more akin to a water bus. “Walang traffic, tuloy-tuloy at walang pollution,” says Amelita Gamay, Operations Manager for the Pasig River Ferry Service.

They are also convenient in terms of comfort, with a maximum seating capacity of more than 150 per boat, air-conditioning, flat-screen television, and a restroom. “Passengers can just relax for a while and not have to worry.”

At Php25, Php35 and Php45, the prices from point to point are slightly higher than a jeepney, bus or train, but way lower than a taxi (fares of which starts at Php30).

The speed is quite fast compared to most common transportation. From Intramuros to Taguig, for example, the ferry would take less than an hour and a half, whereas if one were to commute on the road, factoring in traffic, it would take more than two and a half hours.

On most weekdays and Saturdays (Sundays are closed), the ferry receives approximately 1,500 to 2,000 passengers, which approximately amounts to under 40,000 per month. “December was a peak season for us, inabot ng 3,000 per day,” Gamay says.

Of the total amount monthly, most comprise of regular passengers, or employees (28,000), followed by students (7-8,000), with seniors being the least (1,800-2,000). The amount does not include specialized, appointment tours for foreign visitors and company outings.

“It’s our hope we can increase the passenger volume of this Pasig Ferry, not just for tourists and foreigners, but for regular commuters,” says Cruz.

On the Pasig River Ferry Tour, visitors will be able to experience many sights of Metro Manila that many local residents haven’t seen. Aboard a comfortable, air-conditioned, 150-seater boat, tourists can explore historical sites such as Malacanang Palace, Sta. Ana, Intramuros and Binondo, from a different perspective, compared to run-of-the-mill bus and foot tours.

PHILTOA is developing other unique, “experiential” tours, including Sta. Ana, which hosts archeological finds, and Guadalupe, from where one can take a bus to the shopping meccas at Ayala Center in Makati and Ortigas Center in Mandaluyong and Pasig

To be sure, there is a lot of work to be done to fully rehabilitate the Pasig River and maximize its transport and tourism potentials. But Cruz points out that the launch of the river tour is “an all-encompassing symbol of the improvement of the Pasig River as a whole.”

“The river was beautiful, then it died. Now let’s see the end vision of what the river is about. We’re presenting [the tour] as the end result of the rehabilitation of the river,” he says.

(For more information, visit the PHILTOA website at www.philtoa.ph.)

By Pepper Marcelo

Experiencing the country in different ways. That is the mantra that local tour operators and the Department of Tourism (DOT) are conveying to foreign and domestic tourists interested in exploring the archipelago. The “Philippine Travel Mart,” was held recently to showcase prime destinations, special tour packages and other travel opportunities to prospective buyers and consumers. It was co-sponsored by the Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA) and the DOT.

Whether it be touring the city of Manila by boat on the Pasig River, or partaking in an exotic, culinary-themed tour of Pampanga, or engaging in more physically-oriented activities in typical relaxation areas such as Boracay, repeat clients and visitors are being offered a more adventurous, unique tourism experience.

“Yung ganda ng bansa is everywhere,” says Tourism Secretary Joseph “Ace” Durano. “However, what has been happening in the last three years is that a lot new places have been developed. A lot of new places are part of the mainstream tourism traffic of the country already. People want to get new information before exploring, and this is the place.”

In 2008, the DOT and PHILTOA formulated a National Ecotourism Strategy Initiative to provide an assortment of new activities to entice tourists and to promote the protection and conservation of the environment as well.

“We’re proudly showing to the world that we’re taking care of the environment,” says Cesar Cruz, general manger of PHILTOA. “Eco-activities are nature based. You have to have good rivers, good forests and a good habitat for wild animals and flora and fauna.”

In 2009, the DOT and PHILTOA developed 24 adventure tour packages, also called modules, with specialized themes and concepts building on what each province and region can to offer. For example, for surfing and kayaking enthusiasts, there’s “Paddle & Surf” in Pangasinan’s Hundred Islands, as well as in La Union and Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. On kayak boats, tourists could go explore coves and islets. And though the country is not known to be a premier destination for surfing, the coastal towns of La Union offer several spots promising consistent “waves and breaks.”

For those that want both a land and sea escapade, “Crawl & Row” offers spelunking (or cave exploring) at Nueva Vizcaya’s Capisanan Cave System, as well as whitewater rafting at the Chico River in the Cordilleras. Then there’s Sagada in Mountain Province with caves so deep they appear to extend down to the ends of the earth. Also up north in Tuguegarao is the famous Callao cave, and down south, in Palawan, there is the St. Paul National Park with its caves that can be explored through the underground river.

Also popular among trekkers and trail-hikers is Mt. Pinatubo, which traverses the provinces of Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales, where one can view the spectacular landscape. The area is also very popular among 4X4 enthusiasts who enjoy riding through creeks, dunes and rocks.

For a more immersive, cultural experience, there’s “Every Island, an Adventure,” with a wide assortment of activities the whole family can enjoy. Unique activities include oyster gathering in Calamianes Group of Islands and a safari tour of Calauit Game Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, both in Palawan.

Not for the faint-hearted, there’s “Tuna, Tubing & Tibolis” in Sarangani province with its local version of the bouncy, soaking, white-water rafting, called “tubing” (where instead of a traditional raft, the passengers sit on recycled rubber tires).

For its part, Cebu has a number of beautiful islands to explore. Famous beaches like those in Sumilon, Malapascua, Camotes and Bantayan islands present a variety of physically-oriented prospects, such as jet skiing, parasailing, snorkeling and banana boat riding.

Farther down south, Davao is a popular locale for extreme sports, with activities like hiking, trekking, snorkeling, diving, bungee-jumping, bird-watching, island-hopping and camping. There’s the “Highlands to Islands” tour, which consists of a tuna dinner, Philippine Eagle and wildlife tour, mountain biking and zip-­lining on the longest zipline in the region.

Other specialized-theme activities for tourists include, but are not limited to, “Rafting & Rappelling,” which encompasses whitewater rafting, zipline and cultural immersion in Cagayan de Oro and rappelling in Camiguin; “Hike & Wave,” which consist of wakeboarding in Camarines Sur and climbing Mt. Mayon in Albay; the “Bicol Xpress,” which also includes wakeboarding in Camarines Sur, but with the added bonus of a whale-shark interaction tour in Donsol; and “Rock & Surf,” which consists of rock-climbing in Atimonan and surfing in Daet.

Activities are not limited to sports. There are also special educational opportunities for visitors to interact with local residents and learn about indigenous cultures such as that of the T’boli tribe of Lake Sebu in Mindanao.

“Tourists can have the chance to do a cultural diversion, to live with the natives and learn from them,” says Cruz. “It’s a very educational and positive activity.”

Durano says he has sampled every tour adventure module and thoroughly enjoyed them. “I like being outdoors and experiencing nature in different ways. Whether it be spelunking, rappelling, or kayaking, I enjoy experiencing things with some physical activity.”

Cruz says that it’s not only foreigners that are getting into these activities, but the locals as well. “More and more of our countrymen are beginning to appreciate them. Even surfing, it used to be an unknown activity here. But now, you go to places like La Union, you see Filipinos conducting surfing clinics.”

With rural provinces and islands naturally getting most of the attention due to their exotic and relaxing atmosphere, Metro Manila has been gradually losing its appeal. To prop up its touristy draw, the government and the private sector have teamed up to introduce the Pasig River Travel Cruise, a unique way of touring the metropolis aboard air-conditioned boats that cruise the Pasig. Besides providing a different view of the city, peripheral tours corresponding to each station destination have been developed. At the Binondo station, for example, tourists can embark the boat and go on a culinary walking tour of Chinatown. In historic Sta. Ana, there’s the Heritage Tour, where visitors can explore archeological finds and heritage structures. On Lawton, there’s the “Manila Madness Tour,” where shoppers can visit the nearby tiangges and malls. Last, but not least, there’s the Walled City of Intramuros, with its own distinct historical walking tour.

No matter the location or one’s preference — whether to relax and simply enjoy the view and breeze, or engage in the most strenuous of physical adventures — the Philippines has it.

“A lot of our kababayans abroad, when they left the country, the tourism industry in the country was still in its infancy stage,” says Durano. “It’s not in their minds that if they want to have a good experience during a vacation, they can do it here in the Philippines. Today, they can do that. In the past, people would just come home to visit their friends and family. You can do that and at the same time have some ‘R and R.’ There are so many places and things you can do here.”