‘Poor’ Eastern Samar now in ‘fastest growing’ province list

NEW LANDMARK Eastern Samar has been named as one of the provinces in the country with fastest growth. This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2024, shows the newly constructed provincial capitol building, now becoming a new landmark in the capital Borongan City, initiated under the administration of outgoing Gov. Ben Evardone. —PHOTO COURTESY OF BIYAHERO.PH

TACLOBAN CITY – Eastern Samar, while still among the country’s poorest provinces, has joined the list of the country’s fastest-growing provinces in terms of economy.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in a Feb. 4 report, said the province recorded an 8.1 percent economic growth in 2023, making it one of the top 10 fastest-growing provinces in the country.

It was the only province in Eastern Visayas to make the list, which was topped by Batanes, which had a 14.5 percent growth rate in 2023.

The 2023 report was the latest released by the PSA.

Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone attributed the development to the various anti-poverty programs implemented by the provincial government.

“This means that our anti-poverty programs, particularly in infrastructure and social services, are already taking roots,” he said in a Viber interview on Feb. 13.

The governor cited improvements in logistics and transportation as key contributors to the province’s economic growth.

Poverty down

“The movement of goods, especially agricultural and fishery products, has become more efficient. This has led to higher incomes for our farmers and fisherfolk while reducing the cost of products,” he said.

Evardone also highlighted the expansion of social services, particularly in health and education, as factors in improving household incomes.

These programs, he said, have helped lift Eastern Samar out of its long-standing status as one of the country’s poorest provinces.

The province’s poverty incidence has also seen a significant decline, dropping from 40 percent in 2018 to 24 percent in 2023, even as the province is still listed as the fourth poorest province in the province, PSA records showed.

Evardone expressed hope that the provincial leaders who would be elected in the elections this May would sustain these initiatives to further address poverty in the province, as he prepares to step down from office on June 30.

Evardone stressed the need for continuity in development efforts.

“I hope the next administration will sustain our initiatives to maintain this momentum,” he said.

Evardone opted not to seek a third term in the upcoming elections.

Instead, his son, incumbent Provincial Board Member Ralph Vincent Evardone, is running for governor.

Ralph Vincent will challenge Quinapondan Mayor Rafael Asebias in the race for the province’s top post.