According to Evardone, who is serving on his second term as governor, with the projected investors coming up to the province, "massive road rehabilitation" and a steady power supply are expected to be put into place.

He attributed the positive development in the province to the "collective effort" of all officials of the province down to the barangay level. He reveled with what he said the getting out of the province from the so-called "Group of 20," which describes the poorest provinces in the country.

"Our record for the past three years is something that we can be proud of. We posted great strides in all areas where the government ought to be present," Evardone said in his inaugural speech as he was sworn into office by Barangay Chairman Felipe Nielda in ceremonies held at the capitol grounds, this city.  
 
Eastern Samar is composed of 23 towns with over 500,000 populations. It has an annual income of about P400 million.

Reelected Vice Governor Leander Geli and the ten members of the provincial board also took their oath of office, a ceremony attended by several municipal and barangay officials, among others.   

The governor said that among the investments that are expected to boost not only the tourism industry of the province but provide the needed impetus on its campaign towards development is the construction of a "world-class" resort and a 200-room hotel in Calicoan, an island off the town of Guiuan.

The construction of the 200-room Intercontinental Hotel is projected to cost around P4 billion while over P100 million is expected to be pour in by a renowned South Korean company that is to construct the world-class resort in the Calicoan, Evardone said.

The construction of these tourism-related facilities is expected to start as soon as all the needed documents are completed, the governor added.

"(And) at this juncture, I would like to thank the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for coming up with the Investments Incentives Ordinance… (that) further enhance our efforts to attract tourists and tourism investors," the governor said.

Vice Gov. Geli, for his part, vowed to help with all the economic efforts of the governor by passing the needed legislative measures, particularly on tourism.

Evardone also said that a Chinese company is also set to construct a hydropower plant with the Amandaraga Falls at a cost of P700 million. The construction of this hydropower plant would help provide power supply to at least the towns of Lawaan, Giporlos, Quinapondan and Balangiga.

Aside from this, he would also coordinate with the Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative on his power energization program among the province's barangays which have yet to have power connection.

The "perennial" road problem of the province would also be addressed by his administration in the next three years, the reelected governor said.

And to ensure that the "massive road project" that he envisioned would really take place, he  created the provincial road rehabilitation and maintenance task force of which he would head with Engr. Ferdinand Picardal, provincial engineer, as his assistant chief.

He admitted that the bad road system of the province is one of the reasons why investors come in trickles into the province.

Gov.Evardone, in his speech, also said that programs related to education development, health care program as well as on agriculture would be pursue by his administration in the next three years. (With a report from Alice Nicart)