Governors in Samar Island met on Tuesday to push for funding of 11 key road projects meant to fast-track Samar’s development through enhanced connectivity between three provinces.
The follow-up coordination meeting held at Northwest Samar State University in Calbayog City focused on progress reports for major road projects crossing the island’s three provinces.
In her opening message, Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan said the meeting is an opportunity to thresh out issues among development partners.
“We are considering (the) amount or the funding that is needed. But there is also another dimension, which is the insurgency problems,” she said.
Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan thanked the national government for its support for peace initiatives and infrastructure development.
“We are deeply thankful for the national government’s ongoing support for our peace initiatives and the development of our infrastructure, including significant projects like the Mondragon-Silvino Lubos Road and the Samar Pacific Coastal Road project (SPCR) 1, as well as the recently approved PHP7.2 billion SPCR 2 project, which will connect Laoang town to the Samar mainland,” he said during the meeting.
The meeting emphasized the completion of critical routes such as the E. Duran to Macatingog Road in Bobon, Northern Samar.
The PHP350 million road project will provide a more direct link between Bobon in Northern Samar and adjacent areas like Calbayog City in Samar.
Another project is the PHP3.2 billion Silvino Lubos (Northern Samar)-Matuguinao (Samar) Road, which will extend it by 18 km. and with plans for four new bridges. It is designed not only to end insurgency but also to open essential trade routes.
Also identified as a priority is the nearly completed Las Navas (Northern Samar)-Jipapad (Eastern Samar) Road, now 72 percent completed. This project is part of a 16.640-km. road network between Jipapad and Las Navas towns.
Other priority projects discussed include the construction of a road from Poblacion, Matuguinao in Samar to the boundary of Del Rosario in Las Navas, Northern Samar worth PHP468.6 million; and the road from Poblacion, Matuguinao to Inubod village Matuguinao near the boundary of Silvino Lubos in Northern Samar, PHP600 million.
Also, the construction of the road from Del Rosario in Matuguinao to Inubod also Matuguinao, worth PHP360.75 million; the road from Angyap in Matuguinao to Carolina in the same town, PHP1.07 billion; and the road from Barruz in Matuguinao to Mobo-ob in San Jorge also in Samar, PHP651 million.
Also listed are the construction of a road from Poblacion in San Jose de Buan, Samar to Can-Aponte village in the town near the boundary of San Jorge town, PHP335.25 million; construction of a road from Poblacion in San Jose de Buan to the boundary of San Isidro Las Navas in Northern Samar, PHP1.05 billion; and the road from Gusa village in San Jose de Buan to boundary of San Miguel village in Maslog, Eastern Samar, PHP810 million.
“While we have made significant strides in local government-initiated infrastructure development, including roads, bridges, and essential public amenities, there is still a pressing need for further support to comprehensively address the requirement for an extensive and efficient road network. This infrastructure is crucial for propelling Northern Samar, and indeed the entirety of Samar Island, toward a future marked by enduring peace,” Ongchuan added.
Present during the meeting were Eastern Samar provincial planning and development officer Joselito Abrugar representing Governor Ben Evardone, Samar 1st district Rep. Stephen James Tan, Calbayog City Mayor Raymund Uy, Philippine Army 803rd Brigade commander Gen. Efren Morados, field officials of Department of Public Works and Highways, provincial engineers, provincial planning and development coordinators of the three Samar Island provinces. (PNA)
