Pasig River tollway still on the table, says Ang

View of the Pasig River where the Pasig River Expressway is expected to emerge. INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Corp. (SMC) might still pursue the P81.53-billion Pasig River Expressway (Parex) as it puts the project only on hold for further review, taking into consideration the public’s opinion before proceeding.

Ramon Ang, SMC president and CEO, told reporters on Monday in Pasay they were “clarifying” the concerns of the public about the project.

“[If] it will benefit more people, why not,” he said when asked if they would still go ahead with the project after postponing it for further review.This showed Ang’s easing of stance about the tollway project as he previously said in March they were dropping it due to adverse public opinion.

In 2021, the scientist group Advocates of Science and Technology for the People said the proposed elevated expressway would cause damage to the river as it would block the natural sunlight and “affect the remaining food chain of Pasig River.”

Private-sector group Ilog Pasiglahin, in a statement in March, said it was critical to preserve the Pasig River as it is also connected to other bodies of water, including Manila Bay, Laguna de Bay, and the rivers of Marikina, San Juan, and Taguig.

Toll Regulatory Board Executive Director Alvin Carullo told the media last week the project was on the final engineering design stage.

The planned Parex project is a 19.37-kilometer six-lane expressway passing through the Pasig River from Radial Road 10 in Manila and the proposed South East Metro Manila Expressway at Circumferential Road 6.Following the cancellation of the Parex project, SMC announced they broke ground for the 76.8-km Pangasinan Link Expressway, which is seen to support economic activities by linking the eastern and western corridors of the province. —Tyrone Jasper C. Piad INQ