Leyte’s surge protection wall halfway complete
As of the end of September, the DPWH reported completion of 17.67km of the 38.12km of structures, while 6.81km are now ongoing and 13.64km have not yet started
TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Public Works and Highways here reported on Tuesday that the Leyte tide embankment project designed to shield coastal communities from big waves is now 59 percent complete after eight years of construction.
DPWH Eastern Visayas regional director Edgar Tabacon stressed that building the 38.12-kilometer storm surge protection from this city to Tanauan town has been very challenging.
"Since the start of construction in 2016, we have been addressing several issues. We are a democratic country and we cannot ignore oppositions, but we will try our best to complete this project within the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.," Tabacon said.
He added that the project completion date depends on the available funds downloaded by the central government.
Of the estimated P12.14 billion required budget, some P8.8 billion have been released from 2016 to this year for the 19-kilometer flood mitigation structure and a 5.43-km backwater dike.
As of the end of September, the DPWH reported completion of 17.67km of the 38.12km of structures, while 6.81km are now ongoing and 13.64km have not yet started.
The flood mitigation structure serves as a protection of communities here and the nearby towns of Palo and Tanauan from destructive waves. It has stainless steel flap gates and river gates with actuators. It also has a bike lane with railings, ramps and streetlights.
"From San Juanico Bridge to downtown, the embankment will also be a parallel highway to address traffic congestion from the city to the Samar area. We still have to coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for environmental consideration and hold a series of public consultations," said Tabacon.
The project stretches from Diit village here to Cabuynan village in Tanauan town, which would protect 33,000 residents from big waves based on a 50-year projected population.
Sections 1 to 3 are in the northern part of this city to downtown areas, Section 4 from the San Jose district of this city to Palo town boundary, Section 5 in areas of Palo and Tanauan and Section 6 in Tanauan town.