TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines -- The Philippine Army based in Eastern Visayas will have a new and bigger base in the region by 2010.

Major General Arthur Tabaquero, commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division, led the groundbreaking ceremony of his command’s new headquarters in Maligaya village, Sta. Rita town, Samar province, on Sunday.

The 8th ID is currently based in Camp Maulong, Catbalogan, Samar, a 45.5-hectare area, its home since October 17, 1987. The new camp, some 70 kilometers away, covers 633 hectares, said Major Magintong Tocalo, 8th Infantry Dvision spokesman.

Construction is expected to be completed by 2010, he said.

The 8th ID is composed of three brigades and eight battalions. It serves the whole of Eastern Visayas and Bohol province in Central Visayas.

With the bigger base, the 8th ID can put up its own retraining facilities and even a housing area for soldiers, Tocalo said.

The village of Maligaya is about eight kilometers from the town proper of Sta. Rita, a fifth class town, and about 30 km away from this city.

The land was donated by the local government unit of Sta. Rita. Town officials led by Mayor Kim Adolfo joined in the groundbreaking ceremony, Tocalo said.

It will be the second time that the 8th ID will relocate to a new camp. Its first main camp was located in San Miguel town, Leyte province, which it occupied for two years.

The 8th ID transferred to Samar when it waged a relentless campaign against the New People's Army (NPA). Samar province is considered to be the hotbed of insurgency in the region.