A PROPOSED expressway between the capital region and Bicol is expected to cut the travel time by half to about five to six hours, a congressman said on Sunday.
“The expressway is already in the pipeline, hopefully, this will be started in the next few years,” Party-list Rep. Elizaldy S. Co said during a recent groundbreaking ceremony of a road dike and flood mitigation structure at the University of Santo Tomas campus in Legazpi City, Albay.
“The right of way is already being bought. Once completed, travel from Bicol to Manila will be reduced to five or six hours,” said.
Other infrastructure development projects lined up to boost transportation are the bridge linking the municipality of Matnog in Sorsogon to Samar in Visayas, a cruise ship terminal, and the revival of a train system.
“This will also open the region to the 70 million tourists we are anticipating,” Mr. Co said.
He said the government will ensure funding of the Samar-Sorsogon bridge construction, which is expected to address seaport congestion and stranded passengers during weather disturbances.
“Detailed engineering and final figures are being established. What’s important is that these projects are no longer standstill,” he said, adding that job opportunities will also be generated.
The Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) aims to conduct another feasibility study on the bridge next year, after findings in 2019 said the project only promised a 4.77% internal rate of return.
The 2019 study estimated that the bridge will cost P284 billion and will be completed in six years. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz
