Samar Island might follow Negros into a new region

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines  — After Negros Island became Region 18, or the Negros Island Region, leaders of the three provinces comprising the island of Samar are now keen on following the path of its fellow Visayan island.

During the consultative and exploratory talks among local leaders in Catbalogan City this week, a sort of a consensus came about that Samar, as a separate region from Eastern Visayas (Region 8), will boost its chances of bigger development considering that it will be the time Samarnons can charter their own course.

The Samar leaders, who gathered in Catbalogan City, have agreed that they must start laying down the course for the creation of a separate region for the good of their constituents, while reducing poverty substantially in the long run.

Senatorial candidate, Representative Win Gatchalian of Valenzuela, when asked for his comment on the Samarnons’ plan, however, cautioned that these talks are now still in the early stages. “All aspects are still in consideration,” he said.

Gatchalian said Samar can achieve economic growth through tourism, which he said is one of the bright spots to this end.

He, however, conceded that peace and order in Samar, the country’s third largest island, should first be addressed before tourism can be effective as an engine of economic growth.

“Samar is endowed with numerous caves, waterfalls, fine beaches and islets but peace should be establish first,” he told The Freeman in a side interview, while he was campaigning in Tacloban City last Friday. (FREEMAN)