DPWH Samar Pacific Coastal Road to be Completed in 2020

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) held a ground-breaking ceremony for its PHP997.5-million project that will connect the coastal towns of Northern Samar. The project is called the Samar Pacific Coastal Road (SPCR), which is an 11.6-kilometer road that is said to be completed in March 2020. DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar and Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-Man led the ground-breaking ceremony of SPCR at Barangay Simora, Palapag in Northern Samar. "This 11.6-kilometer road project from Junction Simora to Junction Palapag segment of Samar Pacific Coastal Road in the town of Palapag, Northern Samar will complete the circumferential road of Samar Island, benefiting motorists from the so-called 'Pacific Coastal' towns heading to the provincial business center of the capital town of Catarman and vice versa," said Villar. DPWH Project Director Sharif Madsmo H. Hasim said that the SPCR will link the coastal municipalities of Northern Samar up to Taft in Eastern Samar. As such, SPCR will eliminate the need to pass through Laoang that requires small boats to cross two rivers. The DPWH added that this project will include the construction of three bridges namely the 161-lineal meter Simora Bridge, 31-lineal meter Jangtud 1 Bridge, and the 69-lineal meter Jangtud 2 Bridge.