Duterte set to ink Pasig River Expressway project next month

President Rodrigo Duterte is set to sign the 19.37-kilometer Pasig River Expressway (PAREX) project in October, a lawmaker said Wednesday.

Bataan Representative Jose Enrique Garcia III, sponsor of the Department of Transportation's proposed P150.76-billion budget for 2022, mentioned this during the resumption of the House budget deliberations.

"Ang proyektong ito ay plano pong simulan one year after signing at nakaplano pong pirmahan po 'yan ngayong Oktubre ng ating Pangulo," Garcia said.

(This project can be started a year after its signing. President Rodrigo Duterte is set to sign it this in October.)

Garcia said the construction of the project would then begin in October 2022.

Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas raised concern that the project would adversely affect residents near Pasig River, claiming that ordinary citizens will not benefit from this.

The P95-billion project, which will be fully financed by San Miguel Corporation, is seen to be a six-lane elevated expressway that will 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.

Once operational, PAREX will link the eastern and western cities of Metro Manila and will connect to the Skyway system.

According to SMC president Ramon Ang, the expressway will also have dedicated bike lanes to encourage healthy, environment-friendly modes of personal transportation, as well as pedestrian walkways to encourage walking or exercise. —KG, GMA News