More consultations sought on Leyte’s ‘Great Wall’ project

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 15 (PNA) - The Regional Development Council (RDC) asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to consult more experts prior to the implementation of the PHP7.9 billion tide embankment project along Leyte’s coastal communities badly hit by storm surges in 2013.

In a statement posted Thursday by the RDC’s secretariat, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the highest policy-making body conditionally endorsed during its fourth quarter 2015 meeting.

“The RDC endorsed the project subject to the conduct of consultation with the experts to be participated by professionals,”

These experts are affiliated with University of the Philippines - Marine Science Institute, Ateneo de Manila University-Manila Observatory, Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Reconstruction, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, and the Area Management Committees of the Local Governments Tacloban City, Palo and Tanauan.

RDC private sector representative Oliver Cam of the Leyte Chamber of Commerce and Industry strongly suggested the consultation of experts to look into the details of the project.

“Cognizant of the critical relevance and huge investment requirement of the Project on Storm Surge Protection: Road Heightening and Tide Embankment for Tacloban-Palo-Tanauan, Leyte, the full council endorsed the project,” the RDC said in a statement.

The council deferred the approval of the “Great Wall” project during its third quarter meeting due to numerous concerns raised by various sectors.

The 27.3-kilometer “Great Wall” project stretches from Diit village in Tacloban to Cabuynan village in Tanauan town.

Sections 1 to 3 are in Tacloban, section 4 are the 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 S. Aquino III after the 2013 storm surges wiped out neighborhoods in Leyte province.

The PHP7.9 billion 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.

The DPWH aims to start the project within the first quarter of 2016, starting in Palo town.

The DPWH-Bureau of Design is still reviewing the revised plan for the project. (PNA)
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Leyte mayors back DPWH’s tide embankment project

PALO, Leyte, Nov. 25 (PNA) – Mayors in Leyte province have welcomed the tide embankment project of the Department of Public Works and Highways as it would protect coastal communities from threats of rising seas.

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