PALAFOX Associates and Palafox Architecture Group, Inc. said they have not signed any contract with San Miguel Corp. (SMC) for the latter’s P95-billion Pasig River Expressway (PAREX) project.
“While it is true that the SMC and [its president], Mr. Ramon S. Ang, have reached out to our principal architect and urban planner Felino ‘Jun’ A. Palafox, Jr. to introduce green architecture and green urbanism principles in SMC infrastructure projects, this has never been formalized specifically for the PAREX project,” they said in a statement.
Last week, SMC said it was tapping Mr. Palafox to help in building 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,” Mr. Ang said.
Palafox Associates and Palafox Architecture Group said they remain “strong” with their stand that public and private sectors must work together to address the climate crisis through multicultural development.
“This means that all economic, social, health, and environmental aspects must be carefully assessed before proceeding with any project,” they added.
The supplemental toll operations agreement for the 19.37-kilometer PAREX project was signed on Sept. 21.
The project is a six-lane elevated expressway that will run from Radial Road 10 in the city of Manila to Circumferential Road 6, also known as the future South East Metro Manila Expressway, in Taguig. It will run along the banks of the Pasig River. — Arjay L. Balinbin