Marcos hopes new coastal road may help improve peace in Samar

Marcos leads the Samar Pacific Coastal Road inauguration in Northern Samar on on July 14, 2023.- Radio Television Malacanang

MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network): President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said that the new 11.607-kilometre coastal road on Samar Island is expected to spur economic growth and may help improve peace and order there.

The Samar Pacific Coastal Road (SPCR) was inaugurated Friday. It has three component bridges in the Municipality of Laoang going to the Municipality of Palapag that would allow more effortless movement of goods and services within the island.

“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 delivery and movement of basic goods and services, which will hopefully boost our people’s quality of life,” Marcos said in a speech.

“This undertaking strengthens the government’s resolve to improve the peace and order situation in the province and ensure that our economic gains and basic services reach everyone on the island,” he added.

Marcos did not elaborate on the province’s peace and order situation, but Samar Island is a known hotbed of the communist group New People’s Army (NPA). The island is divided into three provinces: Samar, Northern, and Eastern.

According to Marcos, the SPCR had been stalled for around 30 years due to natural calamities and security issues.

“When the economic activity in Samar is increased, then, of course, the peace and order situation should be improved, and then, of course, the local governments will have more options, more ability to take on their initiatives, and this will help the entire region,” he explained.

The President urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to help establish a seamless and smooth inter-island connectivity and assured the local government of the national government’s continued poverty alleviation and health promotion assistance.

Malacanang said that construction of the SPCR was made possible through the help of the South Korean government via the Export-Import Bank of Korea.

South Korea’s Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-hwa and DPWH Secretary Manny Bonoan were present during the inauguration of the new coastal road in Samar Island.