BUILDING infrastructures is the key to progress in the Philippines. Aside from addressing congestion in existing roads, more thoroughfares will provide Filipinos – especially the economic contributors — to move and become productive.

A country in motion is more likely to prosper than one which is stalled by too much politics and endless discussions. We should stop the talking and do the walking just like our neighbors who decided many years ago to build instead of making noises.

Infrastructure developments are doing a lot of favor to Taipei and Seoul. We were very much ahead of Taiwan and Korea before but their aggressive infrastructure programs like elevated roads along rivers helped to make them first economies.

Thus, it’s a big wonder why a similar infrastructure project – the Pasig River Expressway or PAREX — is being opposed in the Philippines. It’s very disappointing. More saddening is that lies are being spread to discredit the worthy project.

But businessman Ramon Ang, president of PAREX builder San Miguel Corporation, set the record straight.

Is it true that PAREX will destroy Pasig River? Ang said Pasig River has long been considered biologically dead and has been reduced to a flowing dumpsite for solid waste, industrial and chemical wastes, and sewage.

In terms of solid wastes, bathymetric studies SMC conducted place the depth of the river at now just 1 ½ meters at the mouth of the Marikina River and Manggahan river.

Meanwhile, the Pandacan and Manila Bay areas are down to two meters. This is a major cause of flooding. But SMC is taking action.

Ang said they are mounting the largest river clean-up and rehabilitation effort for the Pasig River. SMC will spend P2 billion initially to extract at least 3 million metric tons of solid waste from the river to allow it to channel floodwaters more effectively. This will also allow for safer operations of water ferries.

What about the photos circulating that PAREX will cover the entire Pasig River?

Ang said PAREX will be built only on the banks of Pasig River, its posts occupying only 1 meter of the average 200 meters width of the Pasig River.

Adaptations to the environment and local surroundings are part of SMC’s commitments with the government and local government units.

All valid concerns will also be addressed during the Detailed Engineering Design development phase for the project.

Is PAREX anti-poor and will only benefit the privileged who use cars?

Of course not, said Ang. SMC has announced the PAREX will be a hybrid expressway, accommodating multiple modes of transportation.

Apart from accommodating motor vehicles, it will also feature a modern and efficient public transport system in the form of a Bus Rapid Transit that will run on both the Skyway and PAREX.

This will enable faster, more reliable, safer, comfortable and affordable commutes to and from the northern, southern, eastern, and western areas of Metro Manila.

Will PAREX worsen pollution and induce people to buy more cars?

Ang said it is not expressways that induce people to buy more cars. It is poor or insufficient public transportation, pollution, and even personal progress of people.

The number of vehicles will continue to rise with or without PAREX. Traffic and pollution will worsen if we do not build efficient, multi-purpose, future-ready infrastructure such as the PAREX.

Through well-designed infrastructure, SMC will decongest the cities, make trips faster and more economical, and help reduce air pollution caused by hours of stand-still traffic all over Metro Manila–including in city or residential streets that motorists use as “short cut” routes.

Providing better, more efficient alternative public transport in the form of PAREX’s BRT and other ongoing mass rail projects, will also lessen the use of cars.

PAREX will also not be exclusive to vehicles. It will incorporate bicycle lanes and pedestrian areas, to provide a safer environment for people to use alternative ways of getting from one place to another.

By the way, Ang said SMC and Palafox Associates and Palafox Architecture Group, Inc have had initial discussions for a potential consulting agreement for the PAREX project.

He said Architect Palafox is one of the master-planners of one of SMC’s major projects. Ang said that in their regular meetings with Palafox, the architect expressed strong belief in the need to increase accessibility between the eastern and western corridors of Metro Manila as part of a broader strategy towards decongesting Metro Manila, and easing the many negative impacts of traffic.

“There is no formal engagement with Arch Palafox, but we have been in discussion, something that we have been very clear from the start – that we want him to help us do PAREX right,” he said.

So did Ang said that Palafox signed up for PAREX? No. Ang explained that what he said in all of the company’s related statements is that SMC “is tapping Palafox.”

“Meaning, discussions are ongoing. Palafox signified his intention to think about the project and see how he can marry both his and RSA’s vision for a sustainable, inclusive, green, hybrid infrastructure that will benefit both people and the environment,” Ang said.