Manila, July 22 -- The first three packages of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Toll Road 4 (TR4) covering the Batangas-Quezon stretch are set to open before the end of the year, Transportation Secretary Giovanni "Banoy" Lopez said.

In a televised interview over ANC on Wednesday, Lopez said the portion, once operational, will cut travel time between Sto. Tomas, Batangas and Tiaong, Quezon from 2 hours to just 30 minutes.

"By the end of this year, we can start using the TR4. Mai-inaugurate po natin 'yan. Ang target natin diyan, mga November, December start of operations of TR4 (We can inaugurate it. Our target is around November, December for the start of operations of TR4)," he said.

He added that once the entire SLEX TR4 is complete...