Aquino inspects road projects in remote Eastern Samar town
ARTECHE, Eastern Samar – President Aquino led on Friday morning the inspection of road projects connecting remote communities in Eastern Samar and Northern Samar.
Mr. Aquino, the country’s first Chief Executive who visited the area, arrived 10:43 a.m. at the town center via chopper from Borongan City Airport where the presidential plane landed from Manila.
“Yung kalsada inumpisahan ng aking ina ay ngayon lang nabuksan at hindi na napabayaan. Malapit na nating matapos itong circumferential road at ibang major infrastructure (The road project started by my mother is now complete. We are nearing completion of the circumferential road and other infrastructure projects),” he told the crowd that gathered inside a covered court near the town hall.
Prior to the program, the President made an aerial inspection of the farmto-market road projects in the province, which were either constructed or rehabilitated in the past five years.
During the program at the town hall, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson briefed the Chief Executive about the newly completed and ongoing road projects.
In their messages, Arteche Mayor Rolando Evardone, Governor Conrado Nicart, and Congressman Ben Evardone thanked the President for development programs in the province.
Seven beneficiaries of various national government projects in the area also shared to the President the impact of national government programs in their communities.
Also with the President was Liberal Party presidential bet Mar Roxas, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento and Department of Health Secretary Janet Garin.
Garin assisted the President in turning over some health kits for village health workers to Northern Samar Governor Jose Ong and provincial health officers in Samar and Eastern Samar provinces.
The kits consist of 200 units of blood pressure apparatus, 100 glocumeters, and 12 units of weighing scales for each of three provinces.
Other than DPWH regular infrastructure projects, Eastern Samar is a recipient of Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) road projects.
It is a framework for peace and development, implemented in areas affected by conflict and communities covered by existing peace agreements.
Aquino’s visit is ahead of the 50th Anniversary of Eastern Samar province on November 9.
Arteche, a third class municipality with more than 15,000 population, is about 300 kilometers northeast from Tacloban City, the regional capital and 163 kilometers east of Borongan City. (PNA)