MANILA, Philippines — The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) welcomed the proposal of local government officials of the province of Laguna to construct an access road linking the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) to a proposed regional government center (RGC) in the province.

TRB Executive Director Edmund Reyes Jr. recently met with Mayor Joaquin M. Chipeco Jr. of Calamba City and former Laguna Governor Joey Lina, both prime movers of the proposed RGC for Calabarzon.

They discussed the possibility of an access road to be built from SLEx to the proposed RCG in Barangay Mapagong, Calamba City that will house various Region IV-A government offices.

Isaac David, president of the South Luzon Tollways Corp. (SLTC), concessionaire of SLEx, was also in the meeting and expressed his support for the request.

Reyes said that if the RCG access road is built, residents of Calabarzon area traveling to Manila and other places in Laguna will benefit since the access road will make it easier to go to the area where various government agencies will be set up.

"Once the SLEx bypass access to the proposed RGC is granted, it will significantly provide convenience to the people of the Calabarzon Region instead of traveling to different government offices to transact and secure assistance," he said.

Reyes, a former Marinduque congressman, said the proposed access road dovetails with PNoy’s "Kayo ang Boss" principle. He explained that the provision of an easy access to the RGC will allow people from Calabarzon to avail of government services at their convenience.

“The TRB would like to fortify the government’s policy of providing Filipino travelers with safe, convenient and affordable transportation,” Reyes said.

The TRB official added that the bypass access to RGC will significantly ease the burden of people from Calabarzon and open up the region’s economic potentials.

“The TRB will try to expedite the review and evaluation of the grant access request, and endorse it to the TRB Board of Directors for approval,” Reyes added.