Villar cites Las Piñas river as ‘vital life artery’

Senator Cynthia Villar has cited the Las Piñas-Zapote River and its vital significance to Las Piñas City. In a statement following the celebration of the World Rivers Day, she called the river as a "life artery" for her bailiwick Las Piñas City and its people.

“While we no longer have a river as pristine as (it used to be) in the 70’s, back in the time when the river (was) teeming with fish, the river continues to provide for the city through livelihood projects that sprung out of our project to rehabilitate the Las Pinas-Zapote River,” Villar, also chairs the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said.

The "Sagip Ilog" project was launched in 2002 to resuscitate the Las Piñas and Zapote Rivers thru the collection of garbage, plastics and water lilies in the river.

The water lilies collected from the river are also used as a material for weaving handicraft which also serves as a livelihood project for housewives in the city. Organic fertilizers are also made from the coconut husk thrown in to the river.

The Sagip Ilog project won for Villar, who was then Las Piñas City representative, and her husband, former Senate President Manny Villar the United Nations “Best Practices Award” in 2011.

Villar also initiated the construction of the Las Piñas River Drive, a five-phased, 20-kilometer road project with the twin objective of easing traffic congestion and reducing flooding in Las Piñas City during the rainy season.

"Through this new road, we are certain of a shorter and a more convenient travel time for the people of Las Piñas and for all those who travel to and from our city. This road infrastructure development makes Las Pinas more attractive to investors," she said.

The road project, which follows the curve of the river bank, involved the resettlement of informal settlers and clean-up of the Las Piñas River.

"We hope that through our projects that transformed our once murky and dirty river to a useful water system, we are raising awareness on the need to better care for our water resources for it to continue to provide us with necessities of life,” Villar said.

World Rivers Day is celebrated every fourth Sunday of September to highlight the many values of rivers and also to encourage the improved stewardship of rivers around the world.