By Sarwell Meniano | Philippine News Agency
Communities in the far-flung town of Maslog will have better access to the highway with the start of the P193-million road project meant to end insurgency.
Funded under the 2024 budget of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) project involves the construction of the first phase of the Maslog-Jipapad Road and Panic-an Bridge in Maslog town.
OPAPRU Area Management Unit-Eastern Visayas chief Imelda Bonifacio said of the total allocation, P163 million is for the road component and P30 million for the building of the bridge.
“The farm-to-market road and bridge projects aim to improve connectivity and facilitate the smoother transport of goods, services, and people not only within Maslog but also in neighboring communities,” Bonifacio said in a phone interview on Wednesday.
Key officials led by Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., held the groundbreaking ceremony on Dec. 16.
During the event, the official reiterated the government’s commitment to funding infrastructure projects that would connect the region, ensuring easier access to essential services and boosting economic activities.
The 2.4-kilometer Maslog-Jipapad Road (Phase 1) and the 22-meter Panic-an Bridge will connect several villages, improving access from commercial centers to farms.
This is just an initial activity for the construction of the 21-kilometer road from Maslog to Jipapad. Some road sections are funded by other government agencies.
In a statement, Brig. Gen. Lenart Lelina, commander of the Philippine Army’s 801st Infantry Brigade, said the groundbreaking ceremony also served as a reminder of the role of infrastructure in peacebuilding efforts.
“The construction of this road and bridge represents not just a physical connection between communities but a pathway to sustainable peace and progress in Eastern Samar,” Lelina stated.
Currently, Maslog town is accessible by boat through a river or by single motorcycle along a muddy road.
Maslog, a 5th-class town, is the least populated municipality in the Visayas with 5,463 as of 2020. The nearest highway is in Jipapad, a town with a population of 8,439.