MANILA - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is preparing some crucial plans and targets for the next two to five years to develop a new road network in Eastern Visayas region. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Acting Secretary Roger G. Mercado said in a statement on Wednesday he has tapped the Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) Operations headed by Undersecretary and "Build Build Build" Chief Implementer Emil K. Sadain to assist Regional Office 8 in preparing the construction of a stronger regional road network. Mercado, who hails from Southern Leyte, identified the insufficient infrastructure as a major constraint to the economic growth and poverty reduction particularly in Southern Leyte and Northern Samar. Sadain had presented to Mercado a road map of short and long-term projects which will help spur the improvement of infrastructure services in Eastern Visayas and move the Region into a virtuous circle of growth and development. One of the projects identified for long-term program is the 15-kilometer (km) Samar Pacific Coastal Road Project (SPCR) Phase 2 including two long-span bridges with a total length of 1.4 km. A feasibility study has been completed for it and the project proposal is set for submission to the National Economic and Development Authority. Also in the pipeline are the construction of the 700-meter Iconic Liloan Bridge with ongoing preparation of project concept paper; construction of 1.1-km Iconic Maasin Coastal Bypass Bridge for discussion with Export-Import Bank of Korea; and 23-km Bohol-Leyte Link Bridge with completed pre-feasibility study funded by Asian Development Bank. Sadain said the SPCR Project Phase 2 from Catarman-Laoang Road Junction to Laoang-Palapag Road Junction will lessen the travel time and establish sustainable economic development foundation in Northern Samar. The proposed project will also involve the construction of Laoang Il Bridge with its main bridge made of pre-stressed concrete box girder. On the other hand, the planned Calomotan Bridge will have an extradosed superstructure in consideration of passing vessels as well as to provide a new local landmark structure in the area. Meanwhile, Sadain said the projects identified under short term priorities using local funds include, among others, the widening from two to four lanes of the Liloan-San Ricardo Road Section; construction of missing links/new roads for the San Ricardo-Bilatan Section of the Liloan-San Ricardo Circumferential Road; construction of missing links/new roads at Liloan-San Ricardo Circumferential Road; and improvement of the newly converted national road, all in Southern Leyte. (PR) }