PBBM leads inauguration of 11-km, PHP 1.03B Samar Coastal Road

New Samar Pacific Coastal Road now open

President Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos, Jr., has led the inauguration of the new 11-kilometer Samar Pacific Coastal Road in Northern Samar. The project costs PHP 1.03 billion.

“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,” President Marcos said in his speech during the inauguration of the project in Palapag, Northern Samar.

The Samar Pacific Coastal Road project was funded by the Philippine government with the assistance from Export-Import Bank of Korea.

The President emphasized the road project will expedite the delivery and movement of basic goods and services, strengthen the government’s resolve to improve the peace and order situation in the province and ensure that the economic gains and basic services are within everyone’s reach.

Implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Unified Project Management Office - Roads Management Cluster II (Multilateral) under overall supervision of Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain, the work involved the construction of 11.6-kilometer road with three bridges – Simora Bridge in Palapag, Jangtud 1 Bridge in Barangay EJ Dulay, Laoang, and the Jangtud 2 Bridge in Barangay Rombang also in Laoang.

In his project briefing, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said that the completion of the coastal road has reduced the travel time from Palapag to Catarman by 5 hours, providing relief to thousands of motorists.

Secretary Bonoan, added that the Detailed Engineering Design loan for the Phase 2 of the Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project was recently approved by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Investment Coordination Committee.

With a total length of 15.01 kilometers, Phase 2 will upgrade the Laoang-Palapag Road Junction to Catarman-Laoang Road Junction and further extend the project by building two long-span bridges, an 800-meter, and 605-meter, effectively connecting Palapag and Catarman towns via the town of Laoang.

“I know you are all excited for today, but mind you that in the coming months, more and more project[s] will be delivered to you by this administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. under the ‘Build Better More’ Program,” added Bonoan.

DPWH aims to complete more big-ticket projects that will contribute to the social and economic development across the country.