The development and progress among regions in Southern Luzon is expected to be enhanced by a bill seeking to establish the Quezon-Bicol Expressway, which has already been endorsed for plenary approval.
The House Committees on Southern Tagalog Development chaired by Rep. Isidro S. Rodriguez Jr. (2nd District, Rizal) and on Appropriations chaired by Rep. Isidro T. Ungab (3rd District, Davao City) have both approved House Bill No. 6475 or the proposed “Quezon-Bicol Expressway Act” and have endorsed it for plenary passage.
The bill substituted HB 5623 authored by Rep. Scott Davies S. Lanete (3rd District, Masbate) and HB 3741 by Rep. Aleta C. Suarez (3rd District, Quezon).
It provides for the creation of the Quezon-Bicol Expressway which shall be financed, constructed, operated and maintained by a grantee, offeror, consortium or proponent, under and by virtue of Republic Act No. 6957, as amended by R.A. 7718, otherwise known as the Build-Operate-Transfer Law.
The QuBEx shall link the province of Quezon with the Bicol Region starting from Malicboy, Quezon and terminating in Sorsogon.
The Department of Public Works and Highways Engineering District concerned shall construct the connect road for the purpose of linking the terminus of the SLEX Toll Road 4 in Lucena City and the entrance of the QuBEx in Malicboy.
The DPWH shall be the lead implementing agency of the Act. The amount necessary to defray the cost of undertaking and completing the feasibility study of the project and other activities relative thereto shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.
Lanete said the State has continuously failed to promote simultaneous development among the country’s regions as shown for example by the construction of expressways leading to Northern and Southern Luzon.
Lanete said there are only two expressways leading to Southern Luzon, namely the South Luzon Expressway and the Star Tollway, and with these two combined lead up to Batangas only.