Traffic in the Philippine capital region has consistently been a source of frustration for both local residents and foreign visitors, including Korean singer Eric Nam.

In August, during his visit, Nam took to Twitter to express his sentiments, stating, “Manila, your Traffic is unmatched” following several hours of being stuck in traffic.

According to the 2022 TomTom Traffic Index, the City of Manila ranks ninth among the most congested cities in the world, making it the second most traffic-congested city in East and Southeast Asia after Sapporo, Japan.

To alleviate traffic congestion and “allow seamless travel” within Metro Manila, the Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC) and San Miguel Holdings Corporation (SMHC) – the infrastructure arm of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) – will build a 19.37-kilometer six-lane elevated expressway over the Pasig River.

The Pasig River Expressway (PAREX), designed to connect Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay, carries an estimated cost of approximately P95.4 billion (US$1.7 billion). Proponents assert that this project will significantly decongest traffic on the major roads of the Capital Region.

PAREX will traverse five cities within the capital region, creating a vital link between Radial Road 10 in the City of Manila and the South East Metro Manila Expressway in Taguig City.

“We will integrate into the design of bus rapid transit systems to further decongest our cities and provide commuters [with] a faster, more efficient, and affordable systems of transport,” said SMC President Ramon Ang’s speech during the groundbreaking of PAREX in 2021.

PAREX initially appeared as a promising solution. But despite its supposed advantages, the project drew substantial criticism.

Ironically, instead of alleviating traffic congestion, experts say PAREX may soon contribute to the already-existing traffic nightmares.