San Miguel’s Pasig River Expressway Not Yet Officially Cancelled: TRB

San Miguel Corporation (SMC) has yet to officially terminate its contract to build the P95-billion Pasig River Expressway (PAREX), according to the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB). Despite earlier statements by SMC’s President Ramon Ang indicating a halt to the project, TRB Executive Director Alvin Carullo clarified that no formal withdrawal has been communicated.

“Technically, it is still on the table because they have not given the confirmation that they are terminating the contract or the project,” Carullo mentioned in an interview.

In March, Ang announced that SMC would not proceed with the PAREX project in response to public opposition. “I’m the kind of businessman that when I see that our countrymen do not like the project, I won’t continue with it,” Ang stated, referencing the project’s widespread criticism for its potential environmental impact and aesthetic concerns.

Despite Ang’s public declaration, the TRB has not received any official documentation from SMC indicating the project’s cancellation. “We wrote to SMC Infrastructure about the reported withdrawal or abandonment of the project. Up to this time, we have not received an official communication from SMC Infra,” Carullo noted.

Before Ang’s announcement, the PAREX project was in its final engineering design (FED) stage. Due to the current situation, the TRB has deferred the FED submission deadline by six months, giving SMC until September 2024 to finalize its stance. “If the TRB receives the official communications, then we will give the proper report to the Board and to the media,” Carullo added.

Carullo also explained the legal and financial implications tied to the project’s potential termination. If the government were to withdraw from the project unilaterally under the Supplemental Toll Operation Agreement (STOA), it would face legal and monetary consequences. However, if SMC decides to withdraw, there would be no financial obligations for the government.

The PAREX project, which broke ground in September 2021, faced criticism from various groups concerned about traffic, environmental impact, and the preservation of heritage sites along the Pasig River. Ang previously attempted to address these concerns by stating that the expressway would be built along the river’s easement, not directly over the river.

The proposed six-lane elevated expressway was planned to run along the banks of the Pasig River, from Radial Road 10 in Manila to C-6 Road or the South East Metro Manila Expressway (SEMME) in Taguig City, fully financed by SMC.

For now, the fate of the PAREX project remains uncertain as stakeholders await an official decision from San Miguel Corporation.