Pasig River revitalization earns UN’s 2025 Asian Townscape Award

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Pasig Bigyang Buhay Muli (PBBM) Project has been recognized by the United Nations (UN) as one of the recipients of the 2025 Asian Townscape Award, honoring initiatives that exemplify excellence in urban design and sustainable development.

The UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific informed the Inter-Agency Council for the Pasig River Urban Development (IAC-PRUD) of the award following deliberations by a jury on 17 September in Japan. The award will be formally conferred on 27 November during ceremonies in Hong Kong.

The PBBM Project, spearheaded by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) as the previous lead agency of IAC-PRUD, has received strong support from First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. The initiative is now supervised by the Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Pasig River Urban Development, headed by Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar.

The project aims to transform the Pasig River and its banks into recreational, cultural, and commercial hubs that promote urban revitalization. It integrates transportation connectivity through the establishment of bike lanes and jogging paths lined with pocket commercial shops along the 26-kilometer stretch of the river—unlocking its economic potential while enhancing public access.

To date, a two-kilometer “instagrammable” stretch—spanning from behind the Manila Central Post Office to the riverside of Fort Santiago in Intramuros—has been opened to the public. The newly developed area has quickly become one of Manila’s must-visit destinations for both local and foreign tourists.

Construction for the next phases of the PBBM Project continues in the City of Manila, as part of the administration’s broader push for sustainable and inclusive urban development.