Every morning in Barangays Bagumbayan and Talisay in Balanga City, Bataan, the Talisay River no longer evokes fear but movement, safety, and everyday life.
Residents jog along a landscaped walkway. Cyclists pass through the riverside path. Families gather in open spaces where children now play freely beside the river that once overflowed into their homes during heavy rains.
A few years ago, this same stretch was a flood-prone riverside settlement where families lived with constant risk as rising waters regularly threatened their homes.
Today, a 290-linear-meter linear park now stands on the same river easement, reflecting how environmental rehabilitation and community relocation can transform both landscapes and lives.
Safer homes through national and local convergence
The transformation of the riverside area is part of the Manila Bay rehabilitation program led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in support of the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen environmental protection, disaster resilience, and livable communities across the country.
The project also aligns with the Supreme Court’s Continuing Mandamus on Manila Bay, which mandates the rehabilitation of the bay and its tributaries, including rivers and esteros across Luzon.
To reduce risks faced by informal settler families, households previously living along the river easement were relocated to safer housing units through the government’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Bataan and the City Government of Balanga.
Nearly three years after relocation, former resident Arthur Olivera said their lives have changed significantly.
He recalled how floodwaters would enter their homes during heavy rains, forcing families to stay alert and evacuate when water levels rose.
“Napakaganda ng nangyari sa amin ngayon. Kaya malaki ang pasasalamat namin kay Presidente Marcos Jr., kay Secretary Cuna. Napakalaking bagay ang ginawa sa aming mga mahihirap at kami ay binigyan ng hanapbuhay dito ng lokal na pamahalaan para maipagpatuloy namin ang pamumuhay namin na masagana at maayos (What happened to us now is very wonderful. That is why we are very thankful to President Marcos Jr. and Secretary Cuna. What was done for us who are poor is a very big help, and the local government gave us livelihood so we can continue living a prosperous and orderly life),” he said.
During a site visit on June 17, DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna highlighted how the project transformed a former riverside shanty area into a public space that promotes safety, environmental protection, and community well-being.
“Itong linear park dito po ay bahagi po ng Manila Bay rehabilitation natin at ayon po sa kautusan ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., gusto niya po ang gawin ng lahat ng mga ahensiya ng gobyerno, tumulong, gumawa ng mga hakbang para yung mga komunidad po natin ay mas maging resilient, mas maging maayos at para gumanda rin ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan (This linear park here is part of our Manila Bay rehabilitation, and in accordance with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., he wants all government agencies to help and implement measures so that our communities become more resilient, more orderly, and so that the lives of our fellow citizens can also improve),” Cuna said.
Balanga City Environment and Natural Resources Office Head Nerissa Mateo said the initiative reflects the national government’s goal of protecting vulnerable communities while improving quality of life.
“Nagkaroon ng direksyon ang buhay ng bawat pamilyang Balangueño na dati ay nasa peligro ang kanilang pamumuhay. Ngayon ay nasa masinop at ligtas na lugar na sila at buo ang konsepto na mayroong livelihood, mayroong maayos na matitirhan at malayo sa peligro (The lives of every Balangueño family, who once lived in danger, have now gained direction. They are now in a more orderly and safe place, with a complete setup that includes livelihood, decent housing, and distance from danger),” she said.
Restoring the river, reclaiming public space
Beyond relocation, the project also focuses on environmental rehabilitation and the restoration of river easements to ensure waterways remain clear, safe, and functional.
Cuna explained that clearing the easement helps reduce flooding risks while restoring the natural condition of the river system.
With the area rehabilitated, the riverside has been converted into a public space that supports recreation, health, and community interaction.
Resident Arthur Joseph Reyes said the area has become a regular destination for biking, jogging, and family activities.
“Before po, medyo hindi pa po well-developed yung lugar na ’to. And then ngayon po is napakaganda na po. Pwedeng pwede na po mag-bike, mag-relax, mag-jogging po every morning (Before, this place was not yet well developed. But now, it is very beautiful. You can now bike, relax, and go jogging every morning),” he said.
In the afternoons, families gather along the riverbank to relax and enjoy the open space, turning what was once a danger zone into a community asset.
Model of integrated and resilient communities
The transformation of the Talisay River area demonstrates how environmental rehabilitation, housing relocation, and local government cooperation can work together to create safer and more livable communities.
By integrating river easement clearing, resettlement, and the development of public green space, government interventions have reduced disaster risks while expanding access to healthier community environments.
As similar initiatives continue across Bataan and the wider Manila Bay region, the project stands as a model of coordinated action that turns vulnerability into resilience.
Along the banks of the Talisay River, a once-flood-prone settlement has become a shared space of safety, renewal, and everyday community life. (CLJD/RPQ, PIA Region 3-Bataan)
