Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office VIII OIC-Director Edgar B. Tabacon confirmed that some sub-sections of Road Heightening and Tide Embankment (RHTE) Project to commence this year.
The P7.95 Billion 27.3 kilometer tide embankment project is a four-meter seawall structure that will serve as first line of defence against rising seas in coastal communities of Tacloban City, Palo, Tanauan towns, where neighborhoods were swept away by storm surges from Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. The project aims to intensify safeness of coastal communities during havocs of typhoons. It will also serve as tourist destination and generate economic benefits to these affected residents.
“We have just bid out 2 sub-sections of Section 4 of RHTE. Section 4 of RHTE stretched from San Jose to Salvacion, Palo. Section 4 is composed of 9 sub-section or we call it 9 packages,” said Director Tabacon in a recent interview.
“All environmental issues on these section are already resolved. However in some parts of Palo-Tanauan town, consultations are still on-going in conformity to the provisions of DENR-EMB. The revised design incorporates recommendations of local government units, affected residents and experts. This is to ensure that issues and concerns from communities affected by the project are resolved and considered with utmost importance in the planning process of RHTE,” he added.