(Photo courtesy of the Provincial Government of Northern Samar.)
To alleviate poverty, end insurgency
TACLOBAN CITY – Education Secretary Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara, who is the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Eastern Visayas, has expressed full support for the ‘unity roads’ project, a major infrastructure initiative aimed at interconnecting the three provinces of Samar Island.
Speaking during the Joint Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (JRTF-ELCAC) meeting on March 6, 2025 in Catbalogan City, Angara commended the province of Samar for its proactive efforts in promoting peace and development.
He pledged to advocate for funding and national support for the project, emphasizing that improved road interconnectivity would enhance security, boost economic growth, and improve the quality of life in Region 8.
According to Angara, infrastructure is the key to peace and progress.
Thus, the unity roads project will not only connect communities but also dismantle barriers that have long hindered development and made people vulnerable to insurgency, he added.
As chair of the Provincial Task Force-ELCAC, Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan formally endorsed the unity roads project, which aims to link Northern Samar, Samar, and Eastern Samar through an expanded network of roads and bridges.
With Secretary Angara’s commitment to push for national support and funding, the project moves closer to realization, bringing hope for a more connected and prosperous Samar Island, Tan said.
The initiative seeks to address two major challenges in the region: poverty and insurgency.
Last February 11, Tan, together with Governors Edwin Ongchuan of Northern Samar) and Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar met in Calbayog City to discuss priority infrastructure projects that would improve access to remote areas and promote economic development.
Among the key projects identified were E. Duran to Macatingog (Bobon) Road in Northern Samar – Estimated budget of P350 million, providing a direct link between Bobon and Calbayog City in Samar; Silvino Lubos-Matuguinao Road (Samar-Northern Samar) – An 18-kilometer road with four planned bridges, costing P3.2 billion, designed to open trade routes and curb insurgent movement; and Catumsan-Jipapad-Las Navas-Catubig-Rawis Road (Las Navas-Jipapad Road) – Currently 72% complete, connecting Northern Samar and Eastern Samar.
All three governors emphasized that these road networks are essential for improving access to health, education, and social services while also ensuring the efficient delivery of government programs to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
The unity roads project aligns with the broader goal of sustained peace-building in Samar Island. By linking remote communities to economic centers, local leaders hope to create new opportunities for trade, tourism, and agriculture—ultimately weakening the root causes of insurgency.
JOEY A. GABIETA
