Non-governmental organization Ilog Pasiglahin released a statement on the cancellation of the Pasig River Expressway (PAREX).
“Ilog Pasiglahin welcomes the announcement of PAREX’s cancellation from San Miguel Corporation (SMC) President and CEO Ramon S. Ang this Monday, March 18. We thank Mr. Ang for listening to the calls of our riverside communities and partner organizations who, for the past three years, have been fighting to save the Pasig River and its tributaries from the disastrous and irreversible impacts of the PAREX on our environment, ecology, climate, health, heritage, economy, and local communities,” the statement read.
Photo: San Miguel Corporation
On March 18, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) President and CEO Ramon S. Ang announced that the toll road project will not push through following the concerns of the public, particularly environmental and transport advocates.
According to the Department of Public Works and Highways, PAREX is a 19.37 km six-lane, all-elevated expressway that traverses the entirety of Pasig River. The project starts from Radial Road 10 in the City of Manila and shall terminate at a connection to the South East Metro Manila Expressway (C6). It will connect and utilize a 2.7-km portion of Skyway Stage 3 from Plaza Azul to San Juan River.
Several advocate groups have been opposing the project’s construction due to its implications for the environment and heritage sites, emphasizing it will not resolve the traffic in the country.
Photo: Joshua Angelo Dy/Ilog Pasiglahin
Ilog Pasiglahin also called for SMC to immediately revoke PAREX’s Supplemental Toll Operations Agreement (STOA) with the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), withdraw their Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) application with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and scrap their permit applications and resolutions with local government units in order to formally cancel the project.
See their full statement below:
