The UAE and the Republic of the Philippines have joined forces to rehabilitate the Pasig River, a vital waterway in Manila, under a new partnership aimed at sustainable development.
The agreement, signed during the 2025 World Government Summit, will focus on preventative and corrective measures to restore the river, with an emphasis on creating socio-economic opportunities for local communities.
First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos of the Philippines and Saeed Rashid Al Zaabi, Advisor to the Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development, witnessed the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU). The deal was formalized by Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, Secretary of the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Managing Director of Clean Rivers.
As part of the collaboration, Clean Rivers, a non-profit under Erth Zayed Philanthropies, will contribute up to US$20 million towards projects aimed at enhancing community welfare and preventing waste leakage while restoring the river's ecological health. Abdullah Al Qubaisi emphasized the UAE’s commitment to global sustainable development, noting the initiative as a vital step towards preserving water resources.
Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga highlighted the rehabilitation of the Pasig River as a key component of the Philippines’ environmental and economic resilience goals. The project aligns with the Philippines’ National Plan of Action to reduce marine litter by 50% by 2030 and achieve zero waste to Philippine waters by 2040.
This collaboration reinforces the UAE’s leadership in global philanthropic efforts, with Clean Rivers working alongside governments, the private sector, and local communities to restore the Pasig River and foster long-term sustainable development.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
