Survivors of Typhoon “Yolanda” challenged anew the government’s P7.9-billion tide embankment project intended to protect a 27.3-kilometer stretch of shoreline from Tacloban to Tanauan in Leyte province from storm surges, saying that more research is needed to determine the project’s effectiveness given its cost and complexity.
Speaking before 1,000 storm survivors who attended a public forum called “Is the Embankment Good for Us?” organized by the Urban Poor Association on Thursday at the Redemptorist Church in Tacloban City, professor and physical oceanographer at the University of the Philippines Marine Institute Laura David said previous studies showed that no amount of protection at the coast can significantly reduce the impact of an incoming storm surge.
Dario Magason, a fisherman at Barangay 89, said during the forum: “The tide embankment will make the fisherman suffer. If there is embankment how can we go on fishing? Where will we put our boats? How can we provide for our families? Embankment is not the solution. We are asking the government that they should build strong and resilient evacuation centers to keep us safe when there is typhoon.”
Magason asked Dr. David, “will the embankment protect us from storm surge or not?’
Storm survivors say up to 14,000 poor families will be displaced by the project even as only 534 permanent resettlement houses have been built out of the 13,801 houses targeted for Tacloban alone, according to the National Housing Authority.
Estrilla Ambid, vice president of Magallanes Survivors Homeowners Association, said, “The public forum is our way of commemorating the anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda. We lost our homes in Yolanda and almost lost our lives. We will not allow another tragedy of displacement by this government’s project.”
“We are all here today to stand united to challenge the embankment and to call for permanent resettlement sites,” Ambid added.
David added: “The scenario of a seawall amplifies the water level near the rivers and it funnels intense water velocity towards its neighboring areas. Coastal vegetation reduces sea level height overall but the same scenario showed increased water velocity locally, which means no settlement or essential structure should be placed near the reforested mangroves.”
Denis Murphy, UPA executive director, said, “We are urging the government to listen to the scientists and the poor affected families. Denying the people their right to be heard is a serious offense. Evidently, there is a need for the government to stop the project and to further study the embankment and the plea of the people.”
Fr. Robert Reyes, OFM, concluded, “we have chosen the church as the venue for forum because this is what Pope Francis wants, namely, to make the church an instrument of bringing the people to discuss important issues that affect the poor. Pope Francis insists the poor people must be part of the process. Government cannot be the only decision maker.”