PAREX ‘technically’ still on the table -TRB

Conglomerate San Miguel Corporation (SMC) had yet to officially terminate its contract with the government to build the P95-billion Pasig River Expressway (PAREX), according to the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).

“Technically, it is still on the table because they have not given the confirmation that they are terminating the contract or the project,” TRB Executive Director Alvin Carullo told reporters in a chance interview.

In March, SMC top honcho Ramon Ang announced that the conglomerate was no longer pursuing the PAREX, saying that he was heeding the public’s sentiments concerning the multi-billion peso project.

“Alam mo, ako ‘yung businessman na kapag nakita ko na ayaw ng kababayan natin, ‘yung project, hindi ko itutuloy,’ Ang said.

(You know, I'm the kind of businessman that when I see that our countrymen do not like the 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,” the SMC chief said.

(For example, I proposed the Pasig River Expressway… but many people oppose it… because it would be an eyesore or whatever. Did you hear that I continued it? No longer since we too are very sensitive, we listen to public opinion.)

Two months after Ang’s announcement, however, the TRB official said the toll roads regulator had yet to receive an official communication from the conglomerate about discontinuing the PAREX project.

“We wrote the SMC Infrastructure on the reported withdrawal or abandonment of the project. Up to this time, we have not received an official communication from SMC Infra. No official communications yet,” Carullo said.

He said that the PAREX, before Ang’s March announcement, was “already in the final engineering design (FED) stage.”

But because of “the recent developments,” the TRB “deferred the deadline of submission of FED for six months.”

“They have until six months from March. If the TRB receives the official communications, then we will give the proper report to the Board and to the media,” Carullo said.

While SMC had verbally stated it was no longer pushing through with the PAREX, the TRB official pointed out that the government could not terminate the project yet.

“Under the STOA (Supplemental Toll Operation Agreement), there will be consequences if the government will be the one to withdraw. If they (SMC) will be the one to unilaterally withdraw, there are no financial obligations,” Carullo said. 

“But if the government, itself, will be the one to terminate, there will be legal consequences and it includes monetary consequences,” he said.

Since it broke ground in September 2021, the PAREX project received several criticisms from multi-sectoral groups, citing its impact on traffic and the environment as well as being an eyesore to heritage structures along the banks of the Pasig River.

Ang had earlier tried to address the criticisms, saying that the proposed toll road would not cover the Pasig River as it would be built along the river’s easement.

The project, which would have been fully financed by SMC, was seen to be a six-lane elevated expressway that would run along the banks of the river, from Radial Road 10 in Manila to C-6 Road or the South East Metro Manila Expressway (SEMME) in Taguig City. — DVM, GMA Integrated News