LINGAYEN: Pangasinan 2nd District Rep. Mark Cojuangco is again pushing for the construction of a seawall along the Lingayen gulf after a storm surge caused by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami) resulted in massive flooding last week.
According to Philippines News Agency, the storm surge inundated some parts of the capitol grounds and nine villages here, as reported by the Pangasinan Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. Cojuangco, in an interview Wednesday, said the flooding caused by the combination of storm surge, high tide, and the southwest monsoon, could have been reduced with the help of a seawall. He noted that the simultaneous occurrence of these factors was something they had been preparing for over the past years.
A 940-meter file sheet and concrete seawall project for Lingayen has already received PHP75 million in funding from the national government under the 2023 budget and an additional PHP110 million for a 1,378-meter extension under this year’s national budget
. Construction works began in April 2023 but were stopped around September last year due to several reasons, including the opposition of fishers who claimed that the project would hamper their livelihood.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) – Dagupan City chief meteorological officer Jose Estrada Jr. mentioned in a phone interview on Wednesday that a seawall would ease the impact of a storm surge. He suggested that the existing seawall at the Lingayen beach should be a meter higher and moved closer to the beach area to better cushion the impact of storm surges.