San Miguel Corporation (SMC) said it has not yet signed a deal with architect and urban planner Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr. for the projected Pasig River Expressway (PAREX).
SMC president Ramon S. Ang stated that they were hoping to add Palafox’s services in making the PAREX project.
“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,” Ang said.
This was after the Palafox Associates and Palafox Architecture Group released a statement last Sunday, September 26, saying that they have not yet signed any contract with SMC.
“While it is true that the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and Mr. Ramon Ang have reached out to our principal architect and urban planned Felino “Jun” Palafox, Jr. to introduce green architecture and green urbanism principles in SMC infrastructure projects, this has never been formalized specifically for the PAREX project,” the group said.
SMC also clarifies several misconceptions about the PAREX project that it will badly affect the Pasig River.
The conglomerate said that the Pasig River had already been considered biologically dead. Instead of damaging the river, SMC will invest P2 billion to initially clean up and rehabilitate the river.
SMC also belied allegations spreading that PAREX will cover the Pasig River.
PAREX will be built only on the banks of the 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 our commitments with the government and local government units,” said SMC. – Jack Russel R. Ramos