‘Great Wall of Leyte’ anti storm surge project in full swing — DPWH

A portion of the 7.8-kilometer Section 4 of the Road Heightening and Tide Embankment (RHTE) Project, also known as the “Great Wall of Leyte’ that runs through coastal barangays in Tacloban City to Palo, Leyte is now 45 percent completed, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said.

The DPWH said the 7.8 - kilometer Section 4 of the project is under the first phase.

"The project implementation is on track and we are working on the roadright-of-way (RROW) issues to speed up construction activities,” DPWH Region 8 Director Edgar Tabacon said.

Tabacon added that the project's technical working group has been conducting a series of consultations with affected residents and other stakeholders of the projects in coordination with local government units.

“We are still and are always open for dialogue to address issues arising even if the project is already in full swing," Tabacon clarified.

Once fully completed, the great wall will intensify safety of coastal communities during typhoons or strom surges, protecting Yolanda-affected areas in Tacloban, Palo and Tanauan .

Aside from shielding Leyte from storm surges, the project is also expected to open up tourism opportunities in the province, as it can showcase a good view of the sunset as well mangrove forest along the coastal areas.

The P7.95-billion 27.3-kilometer project stretches from Diit village in Tacloban to Cabuynan village in Tanauan town.

Sections 1 to 3 are in Tacloban, section 4 is in the coastal villages of Tacloban and Palo, section 5 is located in some areas in Palo and Tanauan, and section 6 is in Tanauan town.

The project's seawall is a four-meter high seawall structure that will be implemented in six phases until 2020, the agency said.