Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3269

Introduced by HON. ALETA C. SUAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article 2, Section 10 of the 1987 Constitution provides that:
“The State shall promote social justice in all phases of national development.”

The 2018 Global Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic
Forum ranks the Philippines 92nd out of 140 countries in terms of quality and quantity
of infrastructure. We remain in the worst ranks in the Southeast Asian region for the
past decade.

The link between investments in infrastructure and economic growth is well
established in the literature. Various studies reveal that there is a positive correlation
between infrastructure, economic growth and, ultimately, poverty reduction.
Investments in infrastructure can generate positive externalities throughout an
economy, leading to social returns that exceed private returns!, as affirmed by the Asian
Development Bank Institute in its study, “The Benefits of Regional Infrastructure
Development in Asia: A Quantitative Exploration.”

An efficient and well-maintained road system would allow a) reduced prices
because of competitive transport costs; b) better access to good paying work and basic

* www adbi.org/working-paper/2010/06/30/3923


social services; c) production and marketing of higher-value cash crops and supply of
cheaper agricultural inputs; and d) good infrastructure also improves a country’s
growth prospects by strengthening its investment climate thereby making it attractive
to foreign investors.

A superhighway linking the provinces of Quezon and Bicol will cut
transportation time and hence facilitate trade among them. Increased trade in these
provinces will mean decongestion of Metro Manila because of lesser migration to find
better jobs. Basic social services can be easily delivered especially in time of calamities.
Ecozones linked together means an attractive Pacific side international trading center.
Overall, the potential positive impact of this project will not only redound to the six
provinces involved but to the whole country.

This bill is a consolidation of the bills Hon. Scott Davies Lanete of Masbate and I
filed during the 16th Congress. This has been deliberated upon by the House of
Representatives’ Committees on Southern Tagalog Development and Appropriations
during the 16th Congress, and has been refiled in the 17th Congress.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

2
HON. ALETAA. SUAREZ
resentative

‘Third District, Quezon Province


r CLEMENTE SALCEDA.
Representative
Second District, Albay

HON. ae TALLADO
Representative
First District, Camarines Norte

HON.(MARISOL PANOTES
tative
Second District, Camarines Norte

HON. MARIA LOURDES ANDAYA
Representative
First District, Camarines Sur

Hi LUI VILLAFUERTE
tative

District, Camarines Sur


Ht RDIN: ‘TIN R¢ JALDEZ
ntative

First District, Leyte

HON. natal

Representative
ALONA Partylist

ON Lg Tar!
4th Dit. Quen


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No 3269

Introduced by HON. ALETA C. SUAREZ

AN ACT MANDATING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE QUEZON-BICOL
EXPRESSWAY (QuBEx)

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title, - This Act shall be known as the “Quezon-Bicol
Expressway Act.”

SEC. 2. Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote
optimum development among its regions.

SEC. 3. Creation of the Expressway. - There is hereby created the Quezon-Bicol
Expressway (QuBex) 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 Republic Act No. 7718, otherwise known as the Build-
Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law. This Expressway shall link the province of Quezon with
the Bicol Region starting from Malicboy, Quezon and terminating in the province of
Sorsogon. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Engineering
District concerned shall construct the connector road for the purpose of linking the


terminus of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) Toll Road 4 (TR4) in Lucena City, and
the entrance of the QuBEx in Malicboy

SEC. 4. Implementing Agency. - The DPWH shall be the lead implementing
agency for this Act.

SEC. 5. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to defray the cost of the
undertaking and completing the feasibility study for this project and other activities
relative thereto shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations, - Within sixty (60) days from the
approval of this Act, the DPWH shall, in consultation with the stakeholders, formulate
and promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of
this Act.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be declared
invalid or unconstitutional, no other provision hereof shall be thereby affected.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, rules, regulations, orders, circulars, and
memoranda inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.