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| DPWH Acting Secretary Mercado signed Department Orders converting various local roads in Eastern Samar to national roads. Photo: DPWH-8/Facebook |
TACLOBAN CITY– DPWH Acting Secretary Roger Mercado signed Department Order Number 1 on January 3, 2022, and Department Order Number 3 on January 7, 2022, converting various local roads in Eastern Samar to national roads.
The roads included in the declaration were as follows: (1) Brgy. Carolina, Can-avid-Dolores-Maslog-Jipapad Road; (2) Arteche, Brgy. Catumsan-Jipapad-Las Navas-Catubig-Rawis Road; (3) Basey-Maydolong Road; (4) Maslog-San Jose De Buan Road; (5) Borongan Airport Road; (6) Jct. Bua
The Department Orders issued are in accordance with Section 5 of Executive Order No. 124, dated January 30, 1987, which authorizes the DPWH to classify roads and highways as national, provincial city, and barangay roads.
According to District Engineer Ma. Maragarita C. Junia of the DPWH Eastern Samar District Engineering Office, the conversion of these local roads will help improve the province's road networks and spur economic development and opportunities, particularly in rural areas.
As a result of this conversion, the National Government will assume responsibility for road maintenance through the DPWH.
"Because of these conversion of local roads to national highways, it is now easy for the department to look for funding for the maintenance and concreting of these roads. These will improve the accessibility and reduce travel time leading to nearby provinces such as Samar and Northern Samar," DE Junia said.
According to the district engineer, during Acting Secretary Mercado's visit to the province on December 3, 2021, the DPWH Secretary promised to support full connectivity of Eastern Samar and the provinces of Samar Island.
"We are really thankful for Acting Secretary Mercado for helping us as he promised. We have now seven local roads converted to national roads," she added. —Tacloban News Update (Source: DPWH-8/ESDE)