Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla said there were many concerns raised during the consultation process, but these were all resolved through regular meetings with concerned agencies, village officials, and affected communities.
“I support the project because it is an important defence against destructive waves. It will not completely stop the impact of major disaster, but it will help mitigate,” Petilla told reporters.
“A protection of whatever magnitude is better than none. You have to remember that the storm surge was the major reason why many people perished,” she added.
Mayor Pelagio Tecson of neighboring Tanauan town said their town has been consulted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the preparation stage.
“There’s no problem on our part because we have been relocating families away from danger zones. Any help to protect us is welcome,” Tecson told PNA.
In contrast, Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez said the national government should prioritize first the water system project for relocation sites before the “giant seawall.”
The absence of sustainable water system has been derailing the transfer of families from danger zones to resettlement sites. Consequently, the DPWH could not immediately proceed with the construction in highly populated communities.
DPWH Assistant Regional Director Edgar Tabacon agreed that there are many concerns in Tacloban than in nearby towns since there are more structures that would be demolished and more activities would be disrupted.
“We will hold it in abeyance for Tacloban area, as government looks for long term solutions to different issues and concerns. We will probably start the construction in Palo and Tanauan, since those areas are less populated,” Tabacon said in a phone interview.
The 27.3-kilometer project stretches from Diit village in Tacloban to Cabuynan village in Tanauan town. Sections 1 to 3 are in Tacloban, section 4 are coastal villages of Tacloban and Palo, section 5 are some areas in Palo and Tanauan, and section 6 in Tanauan town.
The four-meter high structure, designed to shield coastal communities from big waves, was pushed through by President Benigno Aquino III after the 2013 storm surges wiped out neigborhoods in Leyte province.
The PHP7.9 billion “Great Wall” project include civil works and right of way acquisition broken down in four years – PHP1.46 billion for 2016, PHP1.19 billion for 2017, PHP2.64 billion for 2018, and PHP2.64 for 2019. (PNA)
JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO
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