President Marcos inaugurates Northern Samar road project

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos inaugurated yesterday the 11.607-kilometer Samar Pacific Coastal Road project in Northern Samar.

Marcos said the road project, which was funded with $20.6 million from the South Korean Eximbank, links Laoang, Catubig and Palapag, the so-called “Pacific towns” of Samar, and establishes a circumferential road around the island, connecting markets, industries and communities.

The road has three bridges starting at the Simora junction in Laoang going to Barangay Mabaras in Palapag.

“With the opening of this road and its bridges, the development of Northern Samar’s rich agricultural land and bountiful fishing grounds will follow suit,” Marcos said in his speech. “It will expedite the delivery and movement of our basic goods and services, which will hopefully boost our people’s quality of life.”

The President cited the importance of building the infrastructure in the efforts of the government to improve the peace and order situation in the province.

“It is not only Samar that will be helped. When the economic activity in Samar is increased, then the peace and order situation should improve. And then the government, the local governments will have more options, will have more ability to take on their initiatives. This will help the entire region,” he said.

Construction of the road started on May 13, 2018. Marcos said it is among the 21 projects that South Korea is financing in the Philippines.

“We anticipate even an increase of that. And Korea has always been a very good friend of the Philippines,” he said.

He thanked the South Korean government for its support to his administration’s Build Better More program and its assistance to the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

Among those who attended the inauguration were South Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa, Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo, Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Marino Ongchuan and Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan.