Beejay Balagbis Posted on August 14, 2026 at 10:05 am
Great infrastructure begins not with blueprints, but with vision — and the inauguration and turnover of Phase 1 of the Maritime Building at Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) Guiuan stands as proof of what dedicated public servants can achieve when they lead with purpose. Turned over by the DPWH Eastern Samar Division Office, this facility is far more than an academic building: it is the tangible result of years of advocacy, collaboration, and unwavering commitment by the province’s legislative leaders.
At the center of this milestone are two lawmakers who turned a long-held aspiration into reality: Congressman Marcelino “Nonoy” C. Libanan, Minority Leader and 4Ps Partylist Representative, and Congressman Sheen P. Gonzales, Representative of the Lone District of Eastern Samar. The ceremony made clear that this project would not exist without their shared resolve — a vision first forged between then-Governor Ben P. Evardone and Congressman Libanan to bring maritime studies to the province, and carried forward with unyielding focus by both legislative champions.
Congressman Libanan, whose early advocacy laid the groundwork for the Maritime Program, reaffirmed his core principle: that true progress is measured by the opportunities we create for the next generation. He emphasized that quality education and accessible resources are not privileges, but rights — and that Eastern Samar’s youth should never have to leave home to find world-class training. His steady support and legislative backing turned an idea into a fully realized facility, ready to launch the careers of hundreds of Estehanon students.
Equally vital was Congressman Sheen P. Gonzales, who has made education and ESSU’s growth central to his legislative agenda. He outlined a clear, forward-looking commitment: this turnover is not a finish line, but the first step in a sustained drive to expand academic opportunities across the province. Gonzales stressed that investing in higher education is the most powerful investment a lawmaker can make — one that returns dividends in professional success, family stability, and provincial development for decades to come.
Their partnership was celebrated throughout the gathering. Vice Governor Maricar Sison-Goteesan, speaking on behalf of Governor Ralph Vincent “RV” M. Evardone, underscored how the provincial government stands shoulder-to-shoulder with these legislative leaders in supporting ESSU and its students. ESSU President Dr. Andres C. Pagatpatan, Jr. echoed this, noting that the building’s true value lies in the lives it will transform — a transformation made possible because these lawmakers listened, acted, and delivered on their promises. Campus Administrator Prof. Jared Harem Q. Celis also singled out Congressman Libanan for his consistent, unwavering support from the project’s earliest stages through to completion.
The presence of DPWH officials Engr. Maria Daisy Madeja and Engr. Roderick Floria, alongside ESSU’s Dr. Jeffrey A. Guimbaolibot, faculty, staff, and students, underscored one clear truth: when lawmakers lead with vision and collaborate across institutions, barriers fall and dreams take physical form.
This Maritime Building is a monument to legislative leadership. It stands as a reminder that behind every milestone are public servants willing to fight for their constituents’ future. For Congressman Libanan and Congressman Gonzales, this is not the end — it is the beginning. Together, they have proven that with partnership, persistence, and a deep belief in Eastern Samar’s potential, we can build not just structures, but a brighter, more prosperous future — right here, at home.
