EXTEND SLEX TO BICOL -- VILLAR

Senate President Manny Villar urged concerned government departments and agencies to undertake a comprehensive study on the extension of the South Luzon Expressway (Slex) to the thickly populated Bicol region.

Villar said, This infrastructure development will benefit more than five million residents of the region including those in adjoining provinces who will be able to swiftly transport their goods and enjoy easier access to target routes, particularly Manila.

The Bicol region consists of six provinces: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon. It has one independent chartered city which is Naga, and six component cities: Iriga, Legazpi, Ligao, Masbate, Sorsogon and Tabaco.

The Senate President said the extension of Slex to Bicol will eventually transform Southern Luzon into an urban beltway, and will propel economic growth in the region.

Currently, the rehabilitation and widening of Slex up to Calamba is being undertaken, to be followed by the Batangas route, based on the Medium Term Public Investment Program of the government.

Villar said the project should complement the proposed extension of the Light Rail Transit towards the South, particularly to Lucena and Bicol.

The reelectionist senator, who visited Bicol and made the rounds of its public markets recently, was warmly received by the Bicolanos. Villar likewise visited the Gawad Kalinga housing project in Libmanan, Camarines Sur which received support from his office. The Senate President also attended the Youth for Christ anticipated mass at the Naga Sports Complex.