A resident of Burauen, Leyte greets President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during his visit of a housing project on Friday (Jan. 17, 2025). In his message, the Chief Executive called for immediate completion of the Leyte Tide Embankment Project, which has been under construction for a decade. (Photo courtesy of PCO)
BURAUEN, Leyte – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has called for an immediate completion of the Leyte Tide Embankment Project, which has been under construction for a decade.
During his speech at the Burauen Community College here, President Marcos said the project designed to shield coastal com munities from big waves should be given attention as this will improve the country’s disaster resilience.
“Lagpas sa kalahati na ang nagawa sa proyektong ito. Hangad ko sana na sa lalong madaling panahon ay matapos na rin ito ng DPWH o Department of Public Works and Highways (More than half of this project is done. I hope that the DPWH or Department of Public Works and Highways will finish this as soon as possible),” the Chief Executive said.
“Sa buong bansa, ating binibigyang pansin ang pagsiguro na ang lahat ng flood control projects ay tiyakin natin na maayos ang disenyo upang makayanan nito ang dumadalas na mga pag-ulan at ng pagbaha (Nationwide, we are paying attention to ensure that all flood control projects are properly designed to withstand more frequent rainfall and flooding),” he added.
As of end of December 2024, the tide embankment project is 64 percent complete, the DPWH reported on Friday.
DPWH 8 (Eastern Visayas) Director Edgar Tabacon admitted earlier that building the 38.12-km. storm surge protection from Tacloban City to Tanauan town continues to be a challenge 11 years after Super Typhoon Yolanda struck the region.
The project completion date depends on the available funds downloaded by the central government, he said.
Of the estimated PHP12.17 billion required budget, PHP9 billion has been released from 2016 until this year for the 19-km. flood mitigation structure and a 5.43-km. backwater dike.
As of the end of October, the DPWH reported completing 19.51 km. of the 38.64 km. of structures, while construction of 5.52 km. is ongoing, and work has yet to begin for 13.6 km.
The project covers the construction of 22.63 km. of flood mitigation structure and 16 km. of backwater dike structure.
The flood mitigation structure aims to protect communities in this city 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. (PNA)
