MANILA, Philippines — Civil society groups and community organizers on Monday, September 28, submitted a petition urging Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso and Vice Mayor Chi Atienza to reconsider the construction of the Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEX) project.
Led by Stop SALEX Movement co-convenor Menie Odulio alongside the Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP) and other advocacy leaders, the petitioners delivered the letter directly to Manila City Hall. Signed by at least 424 individuals and 37 civil society groups, the document requests that the local government revoke its Certificate of No Objection and halt current construction until a full impact assessment is completed.
The coalition raised concerns over missing alignment details in the city’s initial clearance, pointing out that several affected locations—including Pedro Gil, A. Mabini, Padre Faura, San Marcelino, Ayala Boulevard, and areas in Tondo—were omitted.
They also noted that the planned route diverges from Roxas Boulevard between Anda Circle and Quirino Avenue, contradicting Item 3 of Resolution No. 62.
“The Manila City Council and Mayor Isko had issued a Certificate of No Objection to the project in February this year, so the project is already ongoing. But as stated in the petition letter, it seems they were not provided complete information about where SALEX will pass. In Manila, it will pass Roxas Blvd, Pedro Gil, A. Mabini, Padre Faura, San Marcelino, and Ayala Blvd. That is the main part of SALEX, called the Shoreline Expressway,” Odulio said in response to a Facebook comment regarding the petition.
Emphasizing the situation’s urgency, Odulio highlighted that preliminary construction activities have already commenced in neighboring areas.
“It is quite urgent since they already started work in 2025. A lot of work is being done in Caloocan and Tondo,” she said in an exclusive message to the Manila Bulletin.
According to official planning documents, the proposed SALEX route will traverse multiple Manila districts and run adjacent to major heritage sites and institutions.
Key locations along the route include the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Ospital ng Maynila, Ramon Magsaysay Center, the Supreme Court, University of the Philippines Manila, the Girl Scouts of the Philippines National Headquarters, Paco Park, St. Vincent Parish, and Adamson University.
Key signatories of the petition include Adamson University president Fr. Daniel Franklin E. Pilario and Girl Scouts of the Philippines national president Dr. Cristina Lim-Yuson.
To evaluate the potential environmental, health, and economic impacts of the expressway, the coalition consulted a panel of experts comprising landscape architects, a pulmonologist, a transport economist, environmental planners, a biologist, and an urban ecologist.
Following the submission, YACAP reported on social media that group members were restricted from taking photos, escorted inside the building, and met with an estimated 30 police officers outside the premises.
The group called on city officials to focus on community welfare rather than security deployment.
“We urge the Manila LGU not only to heed our calls but also to prioritize the interests of communities. Instead of sending police officers to intimidate environmental advocates, they should direct resources toward ensuring that proper urban planning is in place,” YACAP stated.
The coalition affirmed its intent to exhaust all legal channels to block the expressway’s development within the capital.
“We will pursue all available legal remedies to stop SALEX from destroying the city of Manila,” Odulio said.