LAST week, Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) Executive Director Alvin Carullo said that the agency had instructed San Miguel Corp. (SMC) to harmonize its project, the Pasig River Expressway (Parex), with the government's Pasig River Esplanade initiative. Carullo also disclosed to reporters that SMC had missed an October deadline to submit final engineering drawings to the TRB.

Carullo was quoted as saying: 'They (SMC) have not submitted [the final design] because it conflicts with the Pasig Esplanade of the DHSUD (Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development) ... They have to harmonize the project.' There are so many compelling reasons for canceling Parex, and yet TRB chooses the path that serves the interest of the corporation.