by Miriam G. Desacada
Jipapad E.Samar–House Minority Floor Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan on Monday (July 1) led the groundbreaking ceremony for the concreting of a 1.3-kilometer road connecting Jipapad of Eastern Samar and Las Navas of Northern Samar.
This road concreting project, involving also slope protection and drainage works, is funded by the national government with P100 million budget facilitated by Libanan, who is also the representative of the 4Ps party-list. It completes the 3.735 kilometer stretch of the Jipapad-Las Navas road, which crosses the boundary of the two provinces.
The project also includes the construction of a bridge connecting Eastern Samar and Northern Samar provinces, Libanan said, adding that the entire infrastructure are designed to provide reliable access to the remote barangays of the towns of Jipapad and Las Navas, which in turn promote economic development of the communities.
Engineer John Paul Bautista, project manager of the DPWH E. Samar Engineering District, in an interview said that thousands of residents in these two towns joined us in the successful groundbreaking rites for the construction of the missing links of the ongoing road construction from Arteche town (E. Samar) to Jipapad, Catubig, and Las Navas towns (N. Samar).
“We believe that every kilometer of the road we open is a step towards progress and security of our fellowmen in Eastern and Northern Samar, or the whole of Samar island. With this project, we hope for a smoother and safer travel experience of all motorists,” Bautista said.
Earlier in June 23, Libanan had spearheaded also the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a road network connecting the barangays of Maslog—an Eastern Samar town adjacent to the border of Las Navas—to the highway going to the rest of the province via Can-avid town.
Libanan said the project is a 2-lane roadway starting at Can-Avid, intersecting at Junction Taft–Oras–San Policarpio–Arteche Road, and ending at Arteche-Jipapad-Las Navas-Rawis in the town of Jipapad.
The congressman, a native of Eastern Samar, emphasized that the goal of the project is to provide convenient, safe, and reliable access for all road users traveling to remote barangays in the towns of Can-avid, Dolores, Maslog, and Jipapad.
The project is designed to promote and improve economic activities within these areas and neighboring communities, said Libanan.
“This day we break ground and commence the construction of a road that will connect the three municipalities of Can-avid, Dolores, and Maslog. This ceremony signifies our collective commitment to progress, connectivity, and community development,” said the congressman.
“Roads are more than just pavements of concrete and asphalt. They connect people, stimulate economic growth, and open up opportunities for students and job-seekers. In this way, roads strengthen the social fabric of our community,” Libanan said in this speech during the project launching.
He said the project involves road concreting, slope protection, drainage works, and bridge construction. It has a total length of 57.62 kilometers, and with an estimated total cost of P2.74 billion.
Libanan thanked the national government for extending fund support to make the project a reality. “The unwavering support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez means that our humble province of Eastern Samar will no longer be left behind. Let us celebrate this day as we lay the foundation for progress and prosperity,” he said.
As of May 31, this year, Libanan said the overall status of the project is 26.61 percent complete based on the total project cost. “The project is expected to be completed next year,” he added. —Miriam G. Desacada