By Xander Ledesma
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to expedite the completion of the Leyte Tide Embankment Project, which has been underway for a decade since Super Typhoon Yolanda struck in 2013.
Speaking on Friday at Burauen Community College, President Marcos highlighted the project’s importance in shielding coastal areas from storm surges and severe flooding. “Lagpas sa kalahati na ang nagawa sa proyektong ito. Hangad ko sana na sa lalong madaling panahon ay matapos na rin ito ng DPWH,” he said, noting that nationwide, the government is also focusing on upgrading flood control designs to withstand more frequent rainfall and flooding.
As of the end of December 2024, the DPWH reported that 64 percent of the tide embankment is complete, while 5.52 kilometers remain under construction. Another 13.6 kilometers have yet to break ground. The project, estimated at PHP12.17 billion, has received PHP9 billion in funding from 2016 to 2025 for the first phase of a 19-kilometer flood mitigation structure and a 5.43-kilometer backwater dike.
DPWH 8 (Eastern Visayas) Director Edgar Tabacon earlier acknowledged the challenges in carrying out the 38.12-kilometer storm surge protection system, which extends from Tacloban City to the municipality of Tanauan. The project’s timeline depends largely on budget allocations released by the national government.
Once completed, the tide embankment and backwater dike will aim to protect communities across Tacloban City, Palo, and Tanauan from destructive storm surges. The design incorporates stainless steel flap gates, river gates with actuators, and a bike lane equipped with railings, ramps, and streetlights.
Originally conceptualized after the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Yolanda, the project is part of a broader regional effort to enhance disaster resilience and reduce vulnerability to natural hazards. President Marcos underscored the significance of such initiatives in mitigating the risks posed by increasingly frequent extreme weather events.