DPWH Secretary Mark Villar and South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-man led the ceremony Thursday afternoon. Joining them were local officials of Northern Samar.
The PHP997.50-million
road project, funded through a loan from the South Korean government, will open
an 11.6-km. two-lane road and build three bridges. The Korean contractor aims
to complete the project by March 2020.
Han, in his message,
recalled the sacrifices of Filipino soldiers during the Korean War in defending
the people of South Korea from the invading forces of communist soldiers from
North Korea and China.
“The government of
Korea will remain to fulfill its commitment and will continue to pay our debts.
This groundbreaking is a symbol of our strong partnership and friendship,” Han
said. “This project is also to show our commitment to end poverty and promote
regional economic growth in the Philippines.”
Han added that once
the project is completed, it will significantly reduce transportation costs,
improve the movement of people, enhance services, and alleviate poverty in
Northern Samar.
Villar promised that
under the term of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, the DPWH will complete all
infrastructure projects being implemented and funded by the national
government.
The department will
shoulder the cost of road right-of-way acquisitions.
“This project is an
example of what will happen to the Build, Build, Build project of the national
government. I am confident that this road construction will succeed because we
are united,” Villar said.
Mapanas Mayor Francis
John Tejano said that finally, the Simora-Palapag road is no longer just a
dream, but is about to become a reality.
“We are thankful to
President Duterte, to our district representative, and the governor who pushed
for this road project that will connect our town to Catarman,” Tejano said.
Palapag Mayor Marlo
Agno, whose area would be the first to benefit from the project, was also
thankful to the President for being instrumental in the fulfillment of the road
project.
To reach the capital
town of Catarman, residents of Palapag and three other Pacific towns --
Mapanas, Gamay, and Lapinig -- need to cross the river twice through a pump
boat ride.
From the port in
Pangpang village in Palapag, travelers need to cross the river to Calomotan
village of Laoang, then take a boat ride to the port in the town center and
ride another pump boat to cross the river going to Rawis village.
“That mode of
transportation is very costly, that is why prices of goods here are high,” Agno
shared.
“Once the project is
completed, this will help ease the lives of people here. The road will connect
us to our provincial center and will also result in us having better access to
the services the government is providing,” the mayor added.
The construction of
the Simora-Palapag road would be a big improvement to the entire province of
Northern Samar, which will soon become connected after decades of waiting, said
Governor Ong.
“This will not only
bring economic development but will also help improve our security and peace
and order situation and address the insurgency problem,” Ong told reporters.
The road project will
also help promote the tourism potentials of the four Pacific Coastal towns that
are blessed with beaches, rock formations, waterfalls and caves, he said.
Last year, the DPWH
pushed for the extension of the validity of a Korean-funded loan for the Samar
Pacific Coastal Road due to pre-construction delays.
The National Economic
and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee
approved last Dec. 6, 2017 the loan validity extension of the foreign-funded
project from Jan. 18, 2018 to Jan. 17, 2020.
The extension of the
implementation from September 2017-July 2019 to January 2018-December 2019 was
also approved.
The project has been
delayed due to security issues, bidding failures, concerns on hiring of
consulting services, and late submission of deliverable bidding documents.
The Korea
Export-Import Bank-Economic Development Cooperation Fund Loan No. Phl-14 was
signed on Aug. 19, 2013 and took effect on Jan. 17, 2014, with the original closing
date set on Jan. 16, 2018.
The DPWH completed
the detailed engineering design last Oct. 8, 2015. Pre-procurement conference
for a selection of contractors was held Jan. 11, 2017, followed by pre-bid
conference on Feb. 7 and submission of technical and financial proposal on
February 28. (RTA/JB/PNA)
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