With over P700 million price tag
TACLOBAN CITY – The Samar Island Partnership for Peace and Development (SIPPAD) endorsed road projects funded under the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (Pamana) for the three Samar provinces to be implemented in 2025 during their 48th assembly held in Catarman, Northern Samar, on Wednesday, July 17.
These projects include the construction of a road connecting the towns of Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, and San Jorge, amounting to P100 million; a road opening project for a circumferential road connecting the towns of Rosario, Lavezares, Allen, and San Isidro, also amounting to P100 million; road construction connecting Lope de Vega and Silvino Lobos, amounting to P100 million; and the P200 million construction of Catubig Bridge.
Additionally, part of the Pamana projects for 2025 is the road opening and construction from Barangay Aguinayan in San Jose de Buan, Samar to Las Navas in Northern Samar, amounting to P100 million, and road construction from Matuguinao town to the boundary of Northern Samar, also amounting to P100 million, among others.
Also endorsed during the assembly was the construction of road interconnectivity of Maslog-San Jose de Buan, which Governor Sharee Ann Tan announced in April they would propose to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Matuguinao-Silvino Lubos Road, and the Jipapad-Catubig Road.
During the forum, the bishops on Samar Island, Crispin Varquez of Borongan diocese; Isabelo Abarquez of Calbayog diocese; and Nolly Buco, represented by Rev. Msgr. Gaspar Balerite, vicar general of the Diocese of Catarman, emphasized that road construction should follow standard specifications, road rehabilitation should focus on damaged portions rather than maintaining roads that are still passable, there should be screening of qualified contractors, subcontracting and borrowed licenses should not be allowed, and social preparation and dialogues with stakeholders should be conducted as part of the planning and programming
The SIPPAD members also endorsed the adoption of a third party monitoring system for all DPWH projects and the establishment of a technical working group to assist in decision-making for major projects. They also supported the crafting and signing of a memorandum of partnership agreement between SIPPAD and DPWH to enhance ground mechanisms or processes to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in project implementation.
Among those present were DPWH-8 Regional Director Engr. Edgar Tabacon, who presented current updates and proposed infrastructure and road connectivity projects in Eastern Visayas, specifically in the concerned provinces of Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar, and Imelda Bonifacio, Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity – Eastern Visayas Area Manager.
The SIPPAD assembly is a partnership of the Church, government, civil society, academe, media, and youth coming from the three Samar provinces which convenes every quarter to address poverty by linking concerned agencies to provide solutions to problems in the three provinces of Samar.
ROEL T. AMAZONA
