TACLOBAN CITY (PIA) — To dismantle Samar Island as the last bastion of insurgency in the country, governors from the three Samar provinces and the Joint Regional Task Force 8 to End Local Communist Armed Conflict are pushing for adequate funding for their proposed Unity Road Projects — much-needed interconnectivity linking the three provinces of the island.
The JRTF8-ELCAC, which recently held its first-quarter meeting presided over by Education Secretary Sonny Angara, who is also the designated Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security for Region 8, formally endorsed their resolution to the Regional Development Council seeking sufficient funding for these road projects.
Angara said he fully supports peace initiatives and projects that diminish the vulnerability of communities to communist recruitment.
The Unity Road Projects, which will traverse geographically disadvantaged communities at the heart of Samar Island, areas often vulnerable to communist insurgency and influence, have a combined estimated budget of more than P11 billion.
Lawyer Jam Colas-Villaber, assistant regional director of the National Economic Development Authority, said the RDC in Eastern Visayas welcomes the endorsed resolution and will support the task force in seeking full funding.
“We know that it is not the only solution to the peace and security challenge in Samar Island, but it definitely helps in securing peace in the area. Funding for the projects can be secured partly in 2026 and the rest can be sought in the succeeding years,” Villaber said.
The Unity Road Projects include the 38.48-kilometer Matuguinao (Samar)-Silvino Lobos (Northern Samar) road with a proposed budget of P3.38 billion; 30.46-kilometer Matuguinao (Samar)-Las Navas (Northern Samar) road costing P1.5 billion; Calbayog City (Samar)-Bobon (Northern Samar) road worth P720 million; 32.5-kilometer San Jose de Buan (Samar)-Maslog (Eastern Samar) road costing P967.5 million; 35.3-kilometer San Jose de Buan (Samar)-Las Navas (Northern Samar) road costing P2.1 billion; and the Calbiga (Samar)-Borongan City (Eastern Samar) road with needed funding of P2.4 billion.
Expanding these road networks for Samar Island ensures efficient delivery of health services and social welfare programs, opens trade routes and curbs insurgency by addressing poverty and other social issues. (ACR/PIA Leyte)
