MANILA, Philippines — Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co recently gave updates on the planned public transportation and other key infrastructure projects in the Bicol region.
During the groundbreaking ceremony of a road dike and flood mitigation structure in Legazpi City on Thursday, Co said that an “expressway, the revival of the train system, a cruise ship terminal, and the ambitious link between Matnog, Sorsogon and Samar that will connect major islands Luzon and Visayas” are being planned for the region.
“The expressway is already in the pipeline, hopefully, maumpisahan na siya in the next few years. Binibili na ang right of way. Once completed, travel from Bicol to Manila will be reduced to five or six hours,” he said.
(The expressway is already in the pipeline, hopefully, it will start in the next few years. The right of way is being purchased. Once completed, travel from Bicol to Manila will be reduced to five or six hours.)
Co said that the government would purchase lands to ensure the right-of-way for the turnpike while a private enterprise would build it.
“This expressway is a tangible solution to ease congestion. Tapos na po ang feasibility, si RD Eduarte (DPWH 5 Regional Director Virgilio C. Eduarte) and I, we had several meetings na and nakita ko na ang plans for the expressway. I have personally discussed [this] with Ramon Ang from San Miguel Corporation to assist in property procurement,” he added.
“With the completion of these projects, especially the fast-travel PNR, we’re looking at significant accessibility improvements. Magiging four and a half hours na lang ang travel time from Manila to Bicol and you have options kung via private car or via train,” he said.
(With the completion of these projects, especially the fast-travel PNR, we’re looking at significant accessibility improvements. The travel time from Manila to Bicol will only be four and a half hours and you have the option to go by private vehicle or via train.)
These initiatives will also open the region to about 70 million tourists and numerous employment opportunities, he added.
Moreover, Co mentioned that the ongoing construction work for the International Cruise Ship Terminal signifies economic growth as it will attract tourists and businesses not just in Legazpi City but also in the whole Bicol region.
Co added that the details on the financial aspect of the Samar-Sorsogon Bridge are still being worked out.
“Detailed engineering and final figures are being established. What’s important is that these projects are no longer standstill. Pipilitin natin next year na magkaroon ng initial funding ang proyektong ito kasi six years nang delay,” he said.
(Detailed engineering and final figures are being established. What’s important is that these projects are no longer at a standstill. We will insist that this project has initial funding next year because it has been delayed for six years.)
He added that the seismic activities in and near the region, specifically between Matnog, Sorsogon, and Allen, Northern Samar, were “taken into serious account” during the planning of the bridge.