A welcome development is the recent pronouncement by San Miguel Corp. on their Pasig River Expressway (PAREX) project, which is now undergoing review by the national government. This project, estimated to cost P95 billion, intends to connect the western and eastern side of Metro Manila utilizing the banks of the Pasig River, via a six-lane elevated expressway. This will contribute immensely to traffic decongestion as well as spur economic development, especially in the eastern Metro Manila communities. Included in this project is San Miguel’s commitment to dredge the river—a gargantuan task that many past government administrations tried but failed to do. With San Miguel’s visionary leader, Mr. Ramon Ang or “RSA” at the helm, such a task is now believable and achievable. The impact of the project does not stop there. Now open for the taking are other potential projects associated with the Pasig River that only someone like RSA can initiate and realize.
Some suggestions:
Pasig River Public Transport Corridor—The 19.4-kilometer highway though intended for road vehicles can also be combined with a good rail-based transit mode or at the very least a BRT type of public transport service. The needed infrastructure for such a project will now be minimal as the base foundations needed will be redundant because of the roadway project. More importantly, this will democratize the project by providing affordable mass transport to a greater number of the populace. Also, this can be our first green public transport corridor, utilizing electric vehicle buses to ply the route.
Pasig River Tollway—To continuously maintain the condition of the river, as well as fund its development, a river tollway system to include all marine vehicles plying the corridor as well as the charging of the applicable berthing fees for such parked marine vehicles can be implemented, similar to a land-based tollway. In this manner, a more responsible commercial use of the river system can be achieved at no cost to the government. Included in this would be the continuous dredging of the river that will allow heavier cargos to cross Metro Manila at a lower cost than doing it via land. Imagine carrying down loads of products from Rizal to Cavite, now faster and in greater volume. Not only will it help in traffic decongestion but this will also provide a cheaper way of bulk transport.
Revival of the MAPALA Ferry—The PAREX project can jumpstart another dream project that has been in the drawers of our transport policymakers for the longest time. This is the Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna de Bay (MAPALA) ferry link, which would entail the operations of ferry services in these aforementioned areas. Think of it as a super water-based river corridor that would make possible commerce and travel from Rizal and Laguna provinces all the way to Manila Bay—therefore Cavite and Bataan. And with San Miguel’s Bulacan Airport now beginning construction, such a river ferry connection will be even more valuable to those residing in the eastern front.
Revival and expansion of Laguna de Bay circumferential road project—Again one of the many “dream” projects in the past, this can easily be jump-started as well as expanded similar to the extension projects that San Miguel has done with their land-based expressways.
Integrated Laguna Bay Aquaculture Project—With San Miguel’s involvement in food production, a valuable contribution can be made to the present state of aquaculture development in the area, especially in Laguna Lake. Vital infrastructure such as state of the art buying stations, blast freezing facilities, as well as refrigerated marine vehicles can increase production and value to the present aqua producers in the area as well as bring down costs and assure freshness of produce for the consumers.
Indeed, there are endless possibilities that the PAREX project can engender, including ones that will provide needed solutions to our ever-growing metropolis, including the plan for an expanded Metro Manila territory. Rivers have always been and continue to be the lifeblood and the heart and soul of many civilizations. We, as Metro Manilans, have almost failed in our responsibility to preserve our very own river system. But with San Miguel’s PAREX project, we can now see this being realized, including dream projects that we didn’t expect to see in our horizon.
Thomas “Tim” Orbos was formerly with the DOTr and the MMDA. He has completed his graduate studies at the McCourt School of Public Policy of Georgetown University and is an alumnus of the MIT Sloan School of Management. He can be reached via e-mail at thomas_orbos@sloan.mit.edu