Peace and development advance in Samar as major infrastructure projects break ground

By DPAO, 8ID PA
June 23, 2026

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan City – The government continues to deliver tangible peace dividends to the people of Samar as major infrastructure projects officially commenced through a joint groundbreaking and turnover ceremony held on June 18, 2026.

The event marked the simultaneous groundbreaking of the Catubig Road Project and Maslog-Jipapad Road Phase 2, alongside the turnover of the completed Maslog-Jipapad Road Phase 1 and Panic-an Bridge. These projects are expected to improve connectivity, boost economic opportunities, and enhance access to government services in remote communities.

In Catubig, the project includes the construction of a 2.48-kilometer two-lane road and a 151-meter concrete bridge that will connect 27 geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) to the municipality's economic and social centers. Meanwhile, Maslog-Jipapad Road Phase 2 will extend the road network deeper into interior barangays, further opening communities to development and government services.

Funded under the government's Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Program, the projects demonstrate that lasting peace is achieved not through armed struggle but through development, good governance, and strong partnerships between the government and local communities.

For decades, the Communist Terrorist Group has claimed that armed revolution was the answer to poverty and underdevelopment. Yet the continuing implementation of projects such as these proves otherwise. Roads, bridges, schools, health facilities, livelihood programs, and essential services are now reaching communities through peaceful and democratic means, bringing real and lasting improvements to people's lives.

The infrastructure projects are expected to significantly reduce travel time, improve the delivery of government services, facilitate faster medical response, and provide safer transportation for residents. Farmers will also benefit from easier access to markets, enabling them to transport agricultural products more efficiently and increase household income.

The initiative reflects the government's unwavering commitment to addressing the root causes of conflict through inclusive development. By improving access to opportunities and essential services, the government is creating conditions where communities can thrive without fear, violence, or exploitation.

The 8th Infantry Division welcomed the implementation of the projects, emphasizing that development initiatives complement security operations by addressing the conditions that insurgent groups have long exploited.

"The government is proving that progress comes through unity, cooperation, and peaceful development - not through violent armed struggle. These projects are concrete evidence that communities can achieve a better future without resorting to violence," the Division stated.

The Division likewise called on remaining CT members to abandon violence and take advantage of the government's peace and reintegration programs. As development continues to reach even the most remote areas, the path toward a better future lies not in conflict but in becoming productive partners in nation-building.