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The P1.13-billion Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project in Eastern Visayas is now open following its inauguration on July 14
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The 11.6-km road has three component bridges – one at the Simora Junction in Laoang town and at two points of the highway leading to Barangay Mabaras in Palapag town
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Construction of the South Korea-funded project began in mid-2018 and was completed in June
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The project’s second phase is under process for possible continued financing by KEXIM
The Department of Public Works and Highways inaugurated the P1.13 billion Samar Pacific Coastal Road (SPCR) Project in Eastern Visayas on July 14.
The SPCR is a 11.6-kilometer road with three component bridges – the Simora Bridge, Jangtud Bridge 1, and Jangtud Bridge 2 – located at the Simora Junction in the municipality of Laoang and at two points of the road leading to Barangay Mabaras in the municipality of Palapag.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., who inaugurated the project, said: “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.”
Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan added the project provides the “long-awaited connection” between Simora and Palapag and “will not only promote peace and security but will also open up vast agricultural areas for development.” More than 3,000 travelers daily are expected to benefit from the project.
The work involves construction of 11.6-kilometer road with three bridges namely 161-lineal meter Simora Bridge in Palapag, 31-lineal meter Jangtud 1 Bridge in Barangay EJ Dulay, Laoang, and the 69-lineal meter Jangtud 2 Bridge in Barangay Rombang also in Laoang.
The road traverses the coastal areas from Simora Junction in the town of Laoang going to Barangay Mabaras in the municipality of Palapag.
In his project briefing, Bonoan said the completion of the coastal road has reduced the travel time from Palapag to Catarman by five hours, providing relief to thousands of motorists.
Construction of the SPCR started in mid-2018 and was completed in June this year. The South Korean government through the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) provided funding.
In addition, Bonoan said the Detailed Engineering Design loan for Phase 2 of Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project was recently approved by the National Economic and Development Authority 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 more long-span bridges namely: the 800-meter Laoang Bridge II and 605-meter Calomotan Bridge.
The SPCR is instrumental in establishing the Samar Island Circumferential Road, which is poised to facilitate mobility of goods and services, as well as foster much-needed development in the communities.
Construction of the SPCR started in mid-2018 and was completed in June this year. The South Korean government through the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) provided funding.
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