Manila: The provincial government of Northern Samar has allocated PHP338.4 million this year for the construction of 17 infrastructure projects aimed at improving accessibility and enhancing the delivery of essential services. The provincial government reported on Monday that three of these projects are completed, and the rest are ongoing.

According to Philippines News Agency, these projects are intended to facilitate the easy movement of products and people, increase connectivity, provide temporary shelters in emergencies, and enhance access to basic and social services, including education and health. Among the projects are road concreting in Magsaysay village in Bobon town, improvement of the village hall in Makiwalo in Mondragon, and the construction of the Genagasan-Cabungaan-Victory-Gebulwangan-Kaghilot-Tobgon route in Silvino Lubos. Additionally, the farm-to-market road from the national road to Cagdarao village in Laoang and the installation of solar street lights along the national highway in San Jose town are part of the initiatives.

The projects also include the construction of evacuation centers in Tangbo village in Catubig, Coroconog village in San Roque, Catigbian village in Laoang, and Poblacion 1 in Pambujan. In the capital town of Catarman, the listed projects involve the construction of an access road for the Government Center, a municipal building (phase II), improvement of the Land Transportation Office building, construction of a drainage canal in Old Rizal village, improvement of the Polangi-Gebulwangan farm-to-market road, construction of the Libjo-Cabayhan farm-to-market road phase II, and construction of the Reservist Building.

Northern Samar, one of the six provinces of Eastern Visayas, covers a land area of 349,800 hectares. The province has a population of 645,789 and is subdivided into 24 towns with 569 villages.