The safety of hundreds of families and households along the coast of Barangay 6 in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental is now assured from possible water devastation, following the completion of the concrete seawall built by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Negros Occidental Sub District Engineering Office.
In a statement, DPWH 6 Regional Director Sanny Boy Oropel said the flood control structure is necessary, considering that the coastal community is vulnerable to flooding and seawater overflow especially during typhoons, storm surges, and high tide.
“This structure serves as a wave deflector, protecting the slope from erosion, and minimizing the impact of water current that may possibly damage lives, properties and livelihood of the people in the area,” Oropel said.
“This structure will further protect local business and sources of income to include fishing ports, ensuring the continuous flow of local trade, allowing more opportunities towards local economic development,” he added.
Meantime, in his report, OIC-District Engineer Juan Alfonso Jorbina, Sr. said an amount of P20 million was released funded under FY 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the construction of slope protection structure serving as a significant shield against untoward circumstances.
It involves construction of a 100-meter concrete slope protection structure on a steel sheet pile, and 210-meter wave deflector. It also includes earthworks such as shoring, cribbing, and drain excavation, coffer damming, and reinforcement steel for proposed bridge construction.
“This flood control structure is a tangible edifice that could protect the lives and properties of the people from the possible threat of catastrophe and unwanted circumstances such as flooding, water overflows and erosion that may be brought about by typhoons, storm surges and high tide,” Jorbina said.
As the engineering arm of the government, DPWH continues to implement disaster risk reduction projects, providing protection and ensuring safety of the people, the press release concluded.*
