Northern samar: Officials in Northern Samar have welcomed the inclusion of PHP1 billion in initial funding for the Samar Pacific Coastal Road 2 (SPCR 2) Project under the 2026 budget.
According to Philippines News Agency, the SPCR 2 Project will include the construction of an 800-meter bridge, named Laoang Bridge 2, linking Talisay and Poblacion villages in Laoang, as well as a 605-meter bridge, known as Laoang Bridge 3, linking Calomotan and Pangpang villages in Palapag town. Governor Harris Ongchuan, who lobbied for the project in the 19th Congress, expressed appreciation to the national government for the strong support for this initiative.
'This will not only increase connectivity but also significantly enhance local economic activity and promote peace in the region. When completed, travel time from Laoang to Palapag and vice versa will significantly decrease from one hour to just about 19 minutes,' Ongchuan said in a statement on Wednesday. Originally proposed by the late Rep. Emil Ong, the project received endorsement from the Regional Development Council (RDC) in June 2021 and was subsequently presented to the national government in September of the same year.
During the inauguration in July 2023 of the SPCR 1 Project, also known as the Simora-Palapag Road, 2nd District Rep. Edwin Ongchuan, who was then governor, personally requested to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. the implementation of the SPCR 2 Project, which he has long been pushing for. 'The SPCR 2 project aims to provide seamless connectivity for the movement of people and goods between Laoang Island and the Samar mainland, significantly contributing to the growth of Northern Samar,' Rep. Ongchuan said.
Marcos approved the inclusion of the SPCR 2 project in the National Expenditure Program during the 7th National Economic and Development Authority board meeting on July 19, 2024. On Oct. 7, 2024, the Philippine government formalized the loan agreement with the Export-Import Bank of Korea for the funding of the SPCR 2 project, amounting to USD111.43 million or approximately PHP6.34 billion.
