MANILA, Philippines — The government has approved the development of the P95-billion Pasig River Expressway (PAREX) project, which is seen to address traffic congestion from east to west of Metro Manila.
San Miguel Corp. (SMC), which will fully shoulder the cost to build the expressway, signed Tuesday the supplemental toll operations agreement (STOA) together with officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Transportation and the Toll Regulatory Board.
PAREX is a 19.37-kilometer, six-lane elevated road that will run along the banks of the Pasig River, from Radial Road 10 in the city of Manila to C-6 road, also known as the future South East Metro Manila Expressway (SMME) in Taguig.
It will be the first privately funded road network in the country that combines sustainability features with the functionality of a safe and efficient transport infrastructure.
“PAREX will be the future of urban transport. It will address not only the needs of urban living and environment today, but also the future needs of generation to come,” SMC president Ramon Ang said.
“This will be an inclusive, user-centered infrastructure that will integrate various modes of transportation beyond cars. It will have dedicated bike lanes, walkways, a bus rapid transit system, among others,” he said.
Ang said the project can be completed within five years and can generate 200,000 direct and indirect jobs. “The project will commence construction once the company is issued a notice to proceed,” he said.
PAREX will have three major segments consisting of Segment 1 from R-10 to Plaza Azul in Manila, Segment 2 from Pandacan to C-5, and Segment 3 from C-5 to C6.
It will also connect to and utilize a 2.7-km portion of the new Skyway Stage 3 from Nagtahan to Plaza Azul.
Ang said the project would finally complete the long-envisioned north-south-east-west expressway connectivity for the region.
Once operational, PAREX will serve as the east-west connection, linking up with Skyway 3 and SEMME to make virtually every major city in Metro Manila accessible via expressway.
SMC is tapping the firm of internationally-renowned architect, environment planner, and green urbanism advocate Felino Palafox Jr. to help build the PAREX project.
“Together with Palafox and Associates, we will build what will be the country’s first sustainable infrastructure, one that will not just be green, but will have multiple uses and direct environmental, social, and economic benefits to Filipinos,” Ang said.