Leyte road dike eyed to protect coastal villages from storm surges

This aerial photo taken on November 17, 2013, shows the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Yolanda near the coastal town of Tanauan, Leyte. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–President Benigno Aquino III on Friday said government is eyeing the construction of a 27-square kilometer road dike along the Leyte shoreline to curb the threat of storm surges, the main killer during the onslaught of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” last year.

On the eve of the commemoration of the typhoon, Aquino said the road dike would run along the coast of Tacloban, Palo and Tanauan with a length of 27 square kilometers.

The dike would have a height of four meters above sea level, he said.

“It will be a natural dike or wall to stop the flood,” Aquino said in his speech after inspecting the Guiuan Public Market and a relocation site in Eastern Samar.

Aquino said Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson assured him that construction would start in the first quarter of 2015.

The President said building a road dike is more sustainable to prevent storm surges than evacuating persons from the path of the storm.

“Let’s make it right the first time and make it sustainable,” Aquino said in Filipino.

On November 2013, Super Typhoon Yolanda claimed over 6,300 lives after the monster typhoon ravaged Central Philippines and flattened coastal cities.