ROAD TO PROGRESS. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. passing a portion of the Samar Pacific Coastal Road project in Palapag, Northern Samar, on Friday (July 14, 2023). The 11.6-kilometer road project was completed last month after five years of construction. (PNA photo by Rey Baniquet)
TACLOBAN CITY – President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Friday led the inauguration of the Korean-funded Samar Pacific Coastal Road (SPCR) project phase 1 in Northern Samar completed after five years of construction.
Accompanied by key officials, Marcos inspected a portion of the last segment of the project in Palapag town before unveiling the project marker.
The president was hopeful that the project will soon bring development to Northern Samar’s agriculture.
“With the opening of this road and its bridges, the development of Northern Samar’s rich agricultural lands and bountiful fishing grounds will follow suit. It will also expedite the delivery and movement of our basic goods and services, which will hopefully boost our people’s quality of life,” Marcos said.
This undertaking, he added, strengthens the government’s effort to address insurgency in the province and “ensure that economic gains and basic service will reach everyone on the island.”
The PHP1.12 billion SPCR project phase 1 has opened and concreted 11.6-kilometers of road stretch, including three bridges. The project is funded by the South Korean government through the Export-Import Bank of Korea.
South Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-Hwa said the completion of the project indicates their country’s commitment to become the Philippines’ development partner.
“Local communities stand to gain from this grand infrastructure undertaking. SPCR will highlight the beauty of the island, ease the movement of people and goods, improve the delivery of services, and spur economic and business activities,” Lee added.
For his part, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the project is a dream come true with five years of preparation and another five years of civil works.
“It started in mid-2018 and was completed last month. The construction was not an easy job as it must overcome weather disturbances, pandemic, access restrictions, and security issues,” Bonoan told officials.
Northern Samar Governor Edwin Ongchuan said the project will particularly benefit villagers of Lapainig, Gamay, Mapanas, and Palapag towns, known as the first major settlements in Samar Island.
This will increase the farm activity of thousands of farmers, thereby improving the provincial government’s food self-sufficiency program, he said. At the same time, this will boost tourism and helps sustain the peace and resiliency of the entire province.
During his speech, Ongchuan appealed to Marcos to finance the proposed SPCR phase 2, which requires the construction of two major bridges and road upgrading works.
The construction of the 360-meter Laoang Bridge 2 and 630-meter Calomotan Bridge will cost about PHP6.6 billion and will take seven years to build, according to the local government.
Civil works include upgrading the 12.5-kilometer existing roads in the Laoang-Palapag Road Junction to Catarman-Laoang Road Junction connecting to the national road network.
The DPWH has endorsed the feasibility study for the project in 2021. In the same year, the Eastern Visayas RDC endorsed the project, but it remained unfunded this year. (PNA)
