3 Samar governors seek to address poverty, insurgency
INQUIRER FILES
TACLOBAN CITY — The three governors of Samar Island are pushing for the construction of roads and bridges to end poverty and insurgency in their areas.
Governors Edwin Ongchuan of Northern Samar, Sharee Ann Tan of Samar, and Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, through a representative, met in Calbayog City, Samar on Feb. 11, to discuss key infrastructure projects that would link their respective provinces.
This initiative highlights a collective effort to fast-track Samar’s development through enhanced connectivity and economic growth.
Tan said the meeting was intended to align with development partners and discuss the challenges of securing funds and addressing insurgency.
“We are considering the amount or the funding needed, but there is also another dimension which is the insurgency problem that the military has pointed out,” she said.
Article continues after this advertisementOngchuan, for his part, stressed that provincial governments alone could not shoulder the multi-billion expenses for infrastructure projects and that they need the help of the national government.
Article continues after this advertisement“While we have made significant strides in infrastructure development—including roads, bridges, and essential public amenities—there is still a pressing need for further support. A comprehensive and efficient road network is crucial for propelling Northern Samar, and the entire Samar Island, toward a future marked by lasting peace,” Ongchuan said.
In the past two years, Northern Samar has invested more than P850 million in various infrastructure projects, including roads and bridges, to boost connectivity and economic activity, he said.
Jhon Allen Berbon, head of the Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office of Northern Samar, expressed optimism about the initiative, citing its wide-ranging impact on the entire Samar Island.
“The interconnection of the three provinces will pave the way for economic development, improve the delivery of basic services, and, most importantly, help eradicate the insurgency problem,” he said.
The three Samar provinces continue to struggle with insurgency, a major factor discouraging potential investors.
These provinces are also among the least developed in the country with poverty incidences of 35.8 percent in Samar, 35.6 percent in Eastern Samar, and 27.5 percent in Northern Samar, based on the 2023 report of the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Berbon stressed the need for full support from all congressmen representing Samar Island, as well as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to secure funding for these infrastructure projects.
“The three governors are optimistic that with their endorsement, the backing of all congressmen, and the support of the President, these projects will receive funding,” he said.
Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, represented at the meeting by his provincial planning development officer Joselito Abrugar, reiterated the province’s full support for the initiative, emphasizing its role in addressing poverty and achieving long-term peace and stability in Samar.
The governors hoped that the allocations for these infrastructures would be included in next year’s national budget.
Among the priority projects discussed were the completion of critical routes such as the E. Duran to Macatingog (Bobon) Road in Northern Samar and the Silvino Lubos-Matuguinao Road in Samar, which aims not only to curb insurgent movements but also to open essential trade routes.
The nearly completed Catumsan-Jipapad-Las Navas-Catubig-Rawis Road, also known as the Las Navas (Northern Samar)-Jipapad Road in Eastern Samar, is 72 percent complete.
These roads are particularly vital for connecting remote communities across Samar’s provinces, improving access to healthcare, education, and other basic services, ultimately enhancing quality of life of Samarnons.
The Silvino Lubos-Matuguinao Road, extending 18 kilometers with plans for four new bridges, was estimated to cost P3.2 billion.
The development of the E. Duran to Macatingog (Bobon) Road, with an estimated budget of P350 million, promises a more direct link between Bobon in Northern Samar and adjacent areas like Calbayog City in Samar, aiding in efforts to combat insurgency.
