S𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 leaders push for road projects across provinces

by Miriam G. Desacada

Calbayog City–Governor Edwin Ongchuan of Northern Samar and Sharee Ann Tan of (western) Samar, along with key officials from Eastern Samar province, mayors, engineers, and the military on Tuesday (Feb. 9) gathered for a grand event, known as Follow-up Coordination Meeting, to finalize details and update reports over the development of key road projects across Samar Island.

The grand meeting, held at Northwest Samar State University in Calbayog City discussed, thoroughly the progress of road projects, both proposed and ongoing, crossing the island’s three provinces and connecting remote or marginalized towns from the major highways.

Among the projects, much emphasis was placed on the completion of critical routes, which the leaders said are vital links for remote communities that will provide them easy access to basic health care, education, and other government services that would enhance the quality of life among Samarnons.

These critical projects open essential trade routes from these towns to commercially active communities, the effect of which shall foster progress among residents, and in turn discourage insurgency.
One of these is the E. Duran to Macatingog (Bobon) Road in Northern Samar—worth and estimated P350 million—that will provide a more direct link between Bobon in Northern Samar and adjacent areas down south like Calbayog City in Samar, which effectively aid in combating insurgency.

There’s also the nearly completed (now at 72 percent completion) Catumsan-Jipapad-Las Navas-Catubig-Rawis Road (also known as the Las Navas-Jipapad Road).

The third one is the Silvino Lubos-Matuguinao Road, which has been extended to 18 kilometers more, with plans for four new bridges along the way, at a total cost of P3.2 billion.

Other priority projects highlighted are:

1.) Construction of road from Poblacion, Matuguinao to boundary of Del Rosario in Las Navas (Total budget required: P468.6 million);
2.) Construction of road from Poblacion, Matuguinao to Barangay Inubod, Matuguinao (boundary of Silvino Lobos)T, — with a total budget of P600.3 million;
3.) Construction of road from Brgy. Del Rosario, Matuguinao to Brgy. Inubod, Matuguinao (Total budget – P360.75 million;
4.) Construction of road from Brgy. Angyap, Matuguinao to Brgy. Carolina, Matuguinao. (Total budget –P1.072 billion;
5.) Construction of road from Brgy Barruz, Matuguinao to Brgy. Mobo-ob, San Jorge (boundary going to Can-Aponte of San Jose de Buan). Total budget — P651 million;
6.) Construction of road from Brgy. Poblacion, San Jose de Buan to Brgy. Can-Aponte, San Jose de Buan(boundary to Brgy. Mobo-ob, San Jorge0. Total budget — P335.250 million;
7.) Construction of road from Brgy. Poblacion, San Jose de Buan to Brgy. Aguingayan, San Jose de Buan (boundary of San Isidro, Las Navas. Total budget — P1.59 billion; and
8.) Construction of road from Brgy. Gusa, San Jose de Buan to boundary of Brgy. San Miguel, Maslog. Total budget — P810 million.

Governor Ongchuan, thanked the national government’s enduring support for infrastructure development that are part of government’s peace initiatives.

“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 7.2 billion SPCR 2 project, which will connect Laoang to the mainland,” the governor said.
Governor Tan, for her part, thanked Ongchuan “for the strong collaboration and support for the proposed projects. I did not encounter any difficulties in facilitating projects with Northern Samar, so thank you very much.”

Tad added: “We are considering amount or the funding that is needed. But there is also another dimension which are the insurgency problems that is being attended to by the military.”

Tan, in her opening message, said the meeting was an opportune time to thresh out issues over various projects, among development partners.

Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone was absent though but was ably represented by Eastern Samar Provincial Planning and Development Officer Joselito Abrugar.

Representative Stephen James Tan (first district, Samar), Calbayog City Mayor Raymund Uy, and 803rd Infantry Brigade Commander General Efren Morados, who were at the meeting, also showed their support for the proposed projects.

Despite significant PLGU-funded investments in infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and essential public amenities exceeding P858 million pesos over two years, Ongchuan emphasized the necessity for further support.

“While we have made significant strides in PLGU-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 abd efficient road network.This infrastructure is crucial for propelling Northern Samar, and indeed entirety of Samar Island, toward a future marked by enduring peace ” Ongchuan added.,