Manila, Feb. 12 -- The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed two agreements to develop the Pasig River and boost the governments' competitiveness.

First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos announced Wednesday the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Philippine government and the non-profit organization Clean Rivers Abu Dhabi to restore the Pasig River to its pristine condition.

"Unfortunately, no one really took care of the [Pasig] River and its environs. And over the years, it has become a site for sore eyes. It was polluted, dirty, stinky every other adjective you could think of," Araneta-Marcos said in a special address delivered at the Collaborative Models for Development Forum during the World Govern...