The proposed construction of the Pasig River Expressway or PAREX got favorable and unfavorable public reactions from the public. In one hand, it’s a means to alleviate vehicular congestion, and in the other, it is seen to have a great and negative impact on the environment and surrounding areas. Here’s what we know so far.
No-Go for PAREX according to SMC head honcho Ramon S. Ang
Resistance weighed heavier compared to opinions in favor of the construction of PAREX. In the earliest days of its inception, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) CEO and President Ramon S. Ang was clear that the project will not harm Pasig River – on and over which the expressway will be built – and that it is not something that is “anti-poor”.
Despite his assurances, a clear disfavor remained which may very well be the reason for him to put a full stop to the project. As of this posting, it seems that the Pasig River Expressway is no more.
Photo: San Miguel Corp.
Reports have quoted RSA saying as much about the PAREX project’s end:
“Alam mo, ako ‘yung businessman na kapag nakita ko na ayaw ng kababayan natin, ‘yung project, hindi ko itutuloy [You know, I am a businessman that when I see that our countrymen do not like a project, I won’t continue with it].”
“Kamuha niyan, nag-propose ako Pasig River Expressway… pero sinasabi ng maraming tao na ayaw nila ‘yan… dahil ‘di magandang tingnan or whatever. Narinig mo ba kung tinuloy ko? Hindi na kasi very sensitive ‘din kami, nakikinig kami sa pulso ng bayan [For example, I proposed the Pasig River Expressway… but many people did not like it… because it would be an eyesore or whatever. Did you hear that I will push through? No because we are very sensitive, we listen to public opinion].”
“If the public thinks that it is not good for the public welfare, hindi namin gagawin ‘yun [we will not do it].”
A PHP 95B budget would have been required to construct PAREX. It was to be a 19.37-kilometer elevated expressway with 3 lanes in either direction, passing through the Pasig River from Radial Road 10 in Manila and the proposed South East Metro Manila Expressway at Circumferential Road 6.
PAREX was only one of SMC‘s proposed and ongoing infrastructure projects. The stopping of the PAREX construction may be a speed bump as far as road- and tollway projects go, but with independent and collaborative efforts between conglomerates, we can be sure that more are in the pipeline for RSA and San Miguel Corporation.
