• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Department of Public Works and Highways in Negros Occidental said it is completing a riverbank slope protection project, worth P67.5 million, in Binalbagan, and has constructed a concrete seawall in E.B. Magalona, amounting to P30 million.
Residents of Barangay Tuburan and the neighboring coastal villages in E.B. Magalona will now be protected from the risk of flooding and sudden water rise, with the concrete wall built by the DPWH Negros Occidental 1st District Engineering Office (DEO).
The project involved the construction of a 409-meter-long rubble concrete seawall that runs along the natural shoreline, as well as groynes, built perpendicularly to the seawall.
Groynes are designed to trap sediments, dissipate wave energy, and restrict the transfer of sediments away from the beach through longshore drift. “The four segments of 50-meter groynes are made up of gabions, extending from the upper foreshore into the water. These will help interrupt water flow and limit the movement of sediments,” DPWH Region 6 director Sanny Boy Oropel said in a statement Nov. 7.
Oropel said the flood control structure is significant because it will protect lives and properties from flooding risks, manage valuable water resources efficiently, provide environmental benefits, contribute to economic stability, adapt to climate change challenges, and support integrated water resource management practices.
District Engineer Dene Baldonado Jr. also said this project will mitigate hazards of flooding during high tide and storm surges along the coastal communities.
The DPWH Negros Occidental 2nd DEO, meanwhile, said it is undertaking a riverbank slope protection project in Barangay Bagroy, Binalbagan.
The P67.5-million project involves the construction of a 140 lineal meter concrete slope protection, featuring steel sheet piles foundation using U Type, and a concrete pile cap with rebars.
Oropel said the project will make a significant impact, providing a robust barrier against the river’s force and enhancing the overall resilience of the community. “This slope protection is essential for safeguarding the community and nearby properties from the strong currents of the river. By preventing erosion and land loss, we protect the residents and their homes from potential damage.” | CGC
