New E. Samar road seen to curb insurgency, poverty

From the Philippine News Agency (May 30, 2023): New E. Samar road seen to curb insurgency, poverty (By Roel Amazona and Lizbeth Ann Abella)

POOR ACCESS. A muddy road that forms part of the highway that will link Maslog town to Jipapad town in Eastern Samar. The construction of road costing PHP98.78 million from Maslog town to Jipapad town is expected to bring economic prosperity and the end insurgency in Eastern Samar’s remote communities. (Photo courtesy of Radyo Pilipinas Borongan)

MASLOG, Eastern Samar – The construction of the PHP98.78 million worth of road from Maslog town to Jipapad town is expected to bring economic prosperity and end of the insurgency in Eastern Samar’s remote communities.

Maslog town Mayor Heraclio Santiago said that once the project is completed, it will improve access to more than 2,000 hectares of rice farms in the two towns.

The road will not only help farmers transport their produce, but it will also help end insurgency in far-flung villages of Maslog, Jipapad, and Arteche towns.

“A concreted road means the end of insurgency, bringing peace and prosperity not only to our town, but to also in the entire Eastern Samar province,” Santiago said in his message during the groundbreaking ceremony on Monday.

The project consists of opening and concreting of 1.57 kilometers of road, including drainage, and slope protection.

This is just an initial activity for the construction of the 21-kilometer road from Maslog to Jipapad.

The first phase of the project is eyed for completion within eight months.

Officials of two remote villages of Maslog also expect the same outcome once the road is opened and paved.

Alfredo Nuguit of Tugas village and Federico Bergonio of San Roque village said that their communities used to be infiltrated by the New People’s Army and locals provided food and money to rebels out of fear.

In San Roque, the farthest village of Maslog and located near the boundary of Jipapad town, Bergonio recalled that the last sighting of armed rebels was last year.

“This road will lessen their presence because this will allow better access of military to our village,” Bergonio said.

San Roque village is located about eight kilometers from Maslog town center and can be reached through a three-kilometer hike from Tugas village.

Residents of Tugas village use a single motorcycle and a tractor locally known as “kuliglig” as means of transportation from the village to the town center.

House minority leader and 4Ps Partylist Rep. Marcelino Libanan promised that the ordeal of residents will soon end with this road project.

“I will make sure that this project will be realized because this will help a lot in improving the lives of the people of Eastern Samar,” Libanan added.

He added that once the road is completed and towns of the province is interconnected, this will bring in development, easier delivery of services, improve access to education and communication, improved peace and order situation, and reduce poverty.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1202503