In a significant move to enhance connectivity and combat insurgency, a PHP193-million road and bridge project has been initiated in the remote town of Maslog, Eastern Samar. The project, funded by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) under the 2024 budget, includes the construction of the first phase of the Maslog-Jipapad Road and the Panic-an Bridge. This initiative is part of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program, aimed at improving access to essential services and stimulating economic growth in the region.
Imelda Bonifacio, head of the OPAPRU Area Management Unit-Eastern Visayas, detailed that PHP163 million is allocated for the road, while PHP30 million is designated for the bridge. She emphasized that these developments will not only benefit Maslog but also neighboring communities by facilitating the smoother transport of goods, services, and people.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held on December 16 and led by Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., underscored the government’s commitment to infrastructure projects that enhance regional connectivity. The initial phase of the project includes a 2.4-kilometer road and a 22-meter bridge, which will connect several villages and improve access from commercial centers to farms.
This project is the first step in constructing a 21-kilometer road from Maslog to Jipapad, with additional sections funded by other government agencies. Brig. Gen. Lenart Lelina of the Philippine Army’s 801st Infantry Brigade highlighted the project’s role in peacebuilding, stating that it represents a pathway to sustainable peace and progress in Eastern Samar.
Currently, Maslog, a 5th-class municipality with a population of 5,463 as of 2020, is only accessible by boat through a river or by single motorcycle along a muddy road. The nearest highway is located in Jipapad, which has a population of 8,439.