New seawall won’t block Manila Bay sunset view – DPWH

The plan to build a higher seawall along the Manila Bay won’t block the famed sunset view, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief Rogelio Singson said Tuesday. Singson said he and local officials from Manila have already agreed to raise the seawall’s height to 24 inches or eight inches more than the current 16 inches. The final plan took into account the local government’s proposal to build a seawall without blocking tourists from seeing the Manila Bay sunset, he said. “The reason why we cannot raise the portion of the [seawall] from the Manila Yacht Club to United States Embassy is that because [the local government officials] wanted to have a clear view of the sunset," he said in a press briefing in Quezon City. A five-meter seawall to protect the area from huge storm surges, like what happened last month at the height of Typhoon Pedring, will be “too high," he added. “Kung hahabulin namin ‘yung five-meter storm surge, napakataas naman masyado. Kahit ako hindi ko kayang sampahin na ‘yan," he said. Areas near Roxas Boulevard in Manila and Pasay City — including the posh Sofitel Hotel and the US Embassy — were inundated by floods due to last month’s storm surge. Anchoring the seawall A storm surge is the rush of seawater — pushed by strong winds — toward the coast. Singson said the DPWH will have to rebuild the Manila Bay seawall to properly “anchor" it to the rocks underground. “Right now, that sea wall, the way it is constructed, hindi naka-anchor sa armor rocks o ‘yung mga bato. Nakapatong lang siya. Kapag lumakas ‘yung water pressure kapag may tinatawag na storm surge, kayang-kayang baklasin," he said. “We will also design it in such a way na mayroon kang curvature sa sea side para sa ganoon ay kung may malakas na alon, ‘yung hampas niya palabas," he added. Government will also improve the drainage and clean up the areas near Manila Bay to prevent future flooding, the DPWH chief added. To repair the seawall, government may have to shell out P30 million, the DPWH earlier said. — VS, GMA News