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Samar officials support call for creation of Samar Island Region

Philippines | Luzon

Samar officials support call for creation of Samar Island Region

By Marie Tonette Marticio

TACLOBAN CITY â€“ In a bid to address poverty and insurgency concerns, some officials in Samar Island support a call for the creation of a Samar Island Region (SIR). One of them is Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Ongchuan. "It is a good proposal of the prelates. Hopefully, it will push through," said Ongchuan. Ongchuan said they expect resistance from other regions, but still, he said, they hope that a law will be passed for its realization. During the recent Samar Island Partnership for Peace and Development (Sippad) meeting, Bishop Crispin Varquez of the Diocese of Borongan, Bishop Isabelo Abarquez of the Diocese of Calbayog, and Bishop Emmanuel Trance of the Diocese of Catarman called for the separation of Samar Island from Leyte, Biliran, and Southern Leyte. Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda of Borongan City, Eastern Samar likewise agreed with the proposal, citing the difference between Samar and Leyte. "Samar is the third largest island in the Philippines, yet as far as development is concerned, we are very far behind among the islands in the entire country," noted Agda. "I hope that the proposal will move forward, be discussed, and looked into for the concentration of economic development in Samar," he added. Agda believes that the move would spur economic development and inclusive growth for the people in Samar. Earlier, Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone also expressed his support to prioritize the third largest island in the Philippines in terms of economic development.

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Gov. Edwin Ongchuan Samar Island Region Northern Samar

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