Habagat damages seawalls at SRP

The strong waves brought about by the southwest monsoon, referred to as “hanging habagat,” destroyed temporary seawalls at the South Road Properties.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña said that when he visited SRP yesterday morning, he discovered that the concrete side partitions of the white sand beach at the back of the Sugbu building were damaged by the big waves.

It was also observed that aside from the concrete walls, the sandbags used as ripraps to protect the beach were also washed off and scattered on the shore.

However, Osmeña clarified that it was nothing serious because these seawalls are just temporarily placed there to separate the white sand beach while it is still being developed.

“The walls on the side (of the white sand beach) are exposed so we just put ripraps there, but the waves broke them. But there was no effect on the main wave breakers … it’s nothing serious because it’s not the main structure; it’s just temporary thing,” Osmeña added.

But he revealed that he is concerned how the wave breakers could stand the big waves and prevent damage to structures near the shoreline especially that the city is determined to sell part of the 300-hectare facility.

Osmeña also said that he is willing to consider the plan of putting nets under the bridge going to Talisay City to trap the trash and prevent these from being washed off towards the SRP.

The mayor said that Vicente Dejoras, who he tasked to work on how to maintain cleanliness at the facility, told him about the need to put nets to catch the garbage disposed by residents at the nearby coastal barangays. - Wenna A. Berondo/MEEV