PH, South Korea ink P6-B loan for phase 2 of Samar coastal road project

SMOOTH RIDE Shown here is part of the first phase of the Samar Coastal Road Project, built for P1 billion with funds from the South Korean government, that connects the island towns of Palapag, Catubig and Laoang to the mainland Northern Samar and completed in 2023. South Korea will also finance the project’s second phase costing P6.3 billion set to begin this year until 2029. —DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS-EASTERN VISAYAS PHOTO

TACLOBAN CITY—The construction of the second phase of the Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project (SPCRP 2) in Northern Samar province is set to commence next year, following approval from the South Korean government, which will finance the project.

A loan agreement was formalized between the Philippines and South Korea on Oct. 7, witnessed by President Marcos and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol.

The Export-Import Bank of Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund will provide a P6.34-billion loan for the 15-kilometer project. The first phase of the project, which was completed last year, covers 11.6 km, connecting the inland town of Catabig, the coastal municipality of Palapag, and the island-town of Laoang at a cost of P1.03 billion, also funded by the South Korean government.

Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Ongchuan called the project’s phase 2 as a “long-held dream” that would finally connect the island-municipality of Laoang to the mainland.

“I extend my profound gratitude to the national administration, especially President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., for his unwavering support for this transformative endeavor,” Ongchuan said in a statement on Oct. 10.

The governor recalled personally appealing to President Marcos for support for the completion of the project during the latter’s visit to Northern Samar last year.

Preparatory activities

The multiyear project will include the construction of two major bridges: the Talisay-Laoang Bridge (Laoang Bridge 2) and the Calomotan-Pangpang Bridge (Laoang Bridge 3).

In addition, the project will rehabilitate the existing Catarman-Laoang road junction up to the Laoang-Palapag road junction. Preparatory activities, such as the bidding process, were expected to start within this year, with the project’s completion targeted for 2029.

According to Ongchuan, SPCRP 2 will significantly reduce travel time between Laoang Island and the mainland—from 65 minutes to just 19 minutes by 2029—making it a key driver of economic progress in the province.

President Marcos first visited Northern Samar on July 14, 2023, to inaugurate the Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project 1. That phase connected the island municipalities of Palapag, Catubig and Laoang to the rest of Northern Samar.

The SPCRP, aside from its infrastructure benefits, is also seen as a strategic project to address the insurgency problem in the province by promoting development in previously isolated areas. SPCRP 2 has been included as one of the flagship infrastructure projects under the Marcos administration’s “Build Better More” program.