A party-list legislator pushes anew his advocacy for the creation of One Samar Island Region (SIR) that would separate Samar, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar provinces from Leyte, Southern Leyte and Biliran.
4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan said he would refile a bill for the creation of the SIR after Congress resumes sessions this month.
Libanan remained confident that the measure, if enacted into law, could bring economic development, and peace and order on Samar Island.
He said he was inspired by the presidential approval of the Negros Island Region (NIR) creation.
On June 13, President Marcos approved the creation of the NIR composed of Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.
Libanan said he met earlier with local officials of Samar to discuss his proposal of One Samar Island Region.
Samar, the third largest island in the country consisting of 333,300 hectares, is composed of Western Samar, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar provinces with a combined population of over 1.9 million.
These provinces are among the poorest in the country, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
