San Miguel to push through with Pasig River Expressway

Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has notified the government that it will comply with requirements to proceed with the Pasig River Expressway (PAREX), which was previously dropped due to public concerns.

According to Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) executive director Alvin Carullo, SMC has communicated that it will comply with the requirements for the 19.37-kilometer, six-lane elevated road that would run along the banks of the Pasig River.

“Sumulat ang San Miguel na (San Miguel wrote that) they will comply with the requirements vis-a-vis environmental clearance certificate (ECC). As of now, they are not abandoning the project. As of now, it is a live project,” he said.

In May, SMC president and chief executive officer Ramon Ang said the project could still push through should public concerns be addressed.

In March he said it was scrapped amid public concerns against the project.

The TRB said SMC should submit the final engineering drawings (FED) by October, a deadline which was earlier deferred. The firm will also have to address alignment issues as the project would be close to Malacañang.

Upon submission of the FED, SMC will then have to secure the ECC, along with other permits such as a no objection notice from the local government unit. Once complete, the private firm can then seek a notice to proceed from the TRB.

According to Carullo,construction for PAREX could start in 2025, but securing the ECC would be a challenge, as groups have opposed the project citing its potential impact on traffic and the environment.

“Ang construction, at this time, wala pa silang sina-submit. Medyo in limbo pa ‘yung project given na ‘yung submission ng FED eh dinefer ng board, considering na dating issue na parang inaabanduna ng San Miguel. Right now, mukhang hindi naman,” Carullo said.

(At this time, they have yet to submit (a timeline) for the construction. The project is kind of in limbo, given that the submission of the FED was deferred by the board, considering the previous issue that the project seemed to be abandoned by San Miguel. Right now, it looks like that is not the case.)

SMC, along with government stakeholders including Carullo, former Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, and former Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar signed the Supplemental Toll Operations Agreement for the PAREX in September 2021, signifying approval of the project.

The project is designed to run along the banks of the Pasig River, starting from Radial Road 10 in Manila to C-6 Road. It is also set to connect to and utilize a 2.7-kilometer portion of the new Skyway Stage 3 from Nagtahan to Plaza Azul.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. over the weekend said he wants the urban development of the Pasig River focusing on functional improvement and revitalization done in three years.

Under Phase 1C of the Pasig River Urban Development Project (PRUDP), the government aims to promote functional development, which includes pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, commercial zones, and green spaces. It also covers leasable stalls, walkways, bike lanes, and a boardwalk.

— LA, GMA Integrated News