TACLOBAN CITY – Eastern Samar Gov. Ben P. Evardone is proposing a summit involving all leaders, both from local government and non-government organizations, with the aim of mapping a development program for the entire Samar Island.

Evardone said that with a common stand program for the provinces of Samar and Eastern Samar, “development for the entire Samar provinces could be achieved.”

“This is the main goal of this summit that I am proposing for all governors of the three provinces, to include the mayors and non-government organizations,” he told Leyte Samar Daily Express in a telephone interview.

According to Evardone, it is high time that all leaders and stakeholders of the entire Samar Island should “act as one” for it into become developed areas. He lamented that while the entire island possesses not of the richest natural resources in the country, to include manpower, the island remains saddled in great poverty. “It is now about tie for all of us to act and think as one. Our respective goals, programs and projects must coordinate and synch with each other for us to attain our goal, which is to make our respective provinces developed,” he explained.

He lamented that while the three provinces are facing the same big problem, which is poverty, “there is no concrete programs that are implemented that would really address the problem.”

The three Samar provinces are classified as three of the country’s most depressed provinces with Eastern Samar a recipient of the national government’s food-for-work program. The program, to be implemented for a six-month period, aims to address the high poverty incidence of the province.

According to Ecardone, he is hopeful that both Samar Gov. Milagrosa “Mila” Tan and Northern Samar Gov. Raul Daza would welcome his proposal.

“I am positive that they would be receptive to this summit that I am proposing,’ he told Espress.

He said that he would direct some of his department heads, notably his provincial development and planning officer, to coordinate with their respective counterparts in Samar and Northern Samar provincial governments.

These officials, the Eastern Samar government explained, would be remembers of the working preparatory committee the function of which is to gather relevant data needed for the summit.

And once they have ironed out the needed details. Evardopne said, the group would then recommend as to when and where the summit could be held. “It could be held in Borongan or somewhere else. The important things are that the summit would be held,” he said.

This early, Evardone is planning of inviting President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to address this summit that he is proposing.

The Eastern Samar ruled out any participation by officials of the Regional Development Council (RDC-8) chaired by Southern Leyte Gov. Rosette Lerias.

“We want this as an all Samar affair,” Evardone said.

During the summit, issues on peace and order as well as on environmental protection would also be discussed. Insurgency problem, Evardone said, continues to hound the three provinces which discourage potential investors.