Barangay Dumlog has new seawall

CEBU, Philippines - Residents in the coastal barangay of Dumlog may now heave a sigh of relief as the seawall that has been promised to them for the last many years has already been completed.

This 500-meter structure, which runs along the shore of the barangay’s three coastal sitios, namely, Romahan, Santo Niño, and Litmon—is expected to protect the more than 200 shanties along the shore which for the last many years have been constantly battered by big waves.

It was Governor Gwen Garcia who donated 5,000 sacks of cement for the project.

The city’s counterpart comprised of labor, boulders, and other materials for its completion.

It was early this month when the project was started, and was completed just two weeks ago. Garcia was there yesterday morning for the ceremonial blessing of the new structure.

If the old structure, which was destroyed in last year’s series of typhoons, did not withstand the harshness of the elements, Ariel Araw-araw of the Talisay City Engineering Office assured that the new seawall was built with optimum durability.

For the last five years, the city spent hundreds of thousands rebuilding the houses of the families living in this poor coastal community, after being washed away by the big waves.

This part of Dumlog and even in the neighboring village of Poblacion is directly hit by waves brought about by the southwest monsoon winds or “habagat” because of its location.

In 2006, hundreds of small shanties were destroyed by the big waves, leaving several families homeless. And few months later, before the families could warm up to their newly restored homes, more big waves destroyed the houses, plus other houses in the neighborhood.

 Garcia who knew of the problem immediately went to the rescue and donated 5,000 sacks of cement for the main purpose of making a seawall that would protect these coastal sitios.

There was a seawall built later but was only a small one, which was only enough to protect the barangay road there, which was also destroyed by big waves caused by last year’s typhoon.

As alleged, majority of Garcia’s donation went to the wrong hands. Then another tranche of donation came which was used to make this seawall. –