The long awaited expressway from Metro Manila to Bicol is finally official, after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) signed on Friday, June 3, the Supplemental Toll Operations Agreement (STOA) for the South Luzon Expressway Toll Road 5 (SLEX TR5) with the San Miguel Corporation (SMC).
The said expressway will start at the South Luzon Expressway TR4 Project in Barangay Mayao in Lucena City and will end near the Matnog Ferry Port in Sorsogon. It will be a 4-lane divided toll road with 28 interchanges. It will also have eight segments which will run parallel to the existing Philippine National Railway, Maharlika Highway and Padre Burgos National Road or Quirino Highway:
- Segment I: Lucena to Gumaca, Quezon, 59.60 kms.
- Segment II: Gumaca to Tagkawayan, Quezon, 62.40 kms.
- Segment III: Tagkawayan to Sipocot, Camarines Sur, 59.0 kms.
- Segment IV: Sipocot to Naga City, Camarines Sur 35.40 kms.
- Segment V: Naga City to Polangui, Albay, 48.00 kms.
- Segment VI: Polangui to Legazpi City, Albay, 35.00 kms.
- Segment VII: Legaspi to Sorsogon City, Sorsogon, 54.30 kms.
- Segment VIII: Sorsogon City to Matnog, Sorsogon, 62.78 kms.
“The SLEX TR5 will connect the Provinces of Quezon and Bicol. It is also expected to provide better and safer access to tourism destinations, ro-ro ports, and fish ports in the two provinces and address traffic congestion in the Bicol Region,” said Tugade.
The SLEX Toll Road 5 is under a joint venture of the San Miguel Holdings Corporation (SHMC) and the Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC).