Despite allegations of corruption and irregularity over the C-5 road project, Nacionalista Party presidential bet Sen. Manuel Villar, Jr. is eyeing to extend the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to Bicol when he gets elected as president in May.

Villar said he wants to do this in order to enhance the region’s economy and boost tourism in the provinces comprising the area.

The NP presidential candidate visited Bicol last Saturday and Sunday and promised Bicolanos more progress with a plan to extend the road network.

“The only way to stimulate the economy and boost tourism in the Bicol region is to extend SLEX all the way up to Sorsogon. I know it is not easy to do that, but we can first extend SLEX to Lucena City as an initial phase,” Villar said.

He said the second phase can be up to Naga City in Camarines Sur and the third phase can be done up to Sorsogon.

Villar said he sees more than five million residents of the region benefitting from the road project. Even those in the adjoining provinces will be able to swiftly transport their goods and enjoy easier access to target routes particularly Manila.

The Bicol region consists of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon.

It has one independent chartered city, which is Naga, and six component cities — Iriga, Legazpi, Ligao, Masbate, Sorsogon and Tabaco.

Villar also said that extending SLEX to Bicol provinces would also complement the proposed extension of the Light Rail Transit towards the South, particularly to Lucena and Bicol.