A portion of the Lingayen Baywalk, a multi-million-peso infrastructure project, has been severely damaged following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Uwan.

Retired Colonel Sonny Versoza, a vocal critic of the project, expressed dismay over the extensive damage caused by the storm surge, which devastated key sections of the coastline.

The storm surge inundated areas where bulldozing had been done to clear sand dunes for road expansions and the construction of the baywalk, which stretches along the shoreline.

The baywalk, designed to be a six-lane thoroughfare, was originally projected to cost around one billion pesos.

However, with additional plans for a sea wall, the total cost could rise to as much as four billion pesos. Versoza emphasized that the project’s focus on infrastructure could come at a high environmental cost.

“Some parts of the coastline were cemented, and dunes were bulldozed to make way for the baywalk and road expansions,” said Versoza. “Now, we’re seeing the consequences of those decisions. The natural defenses of the area are compromised, and the livelihoods of local fishermen are at risk.”

Versoza also raised concerns about the unequal allocation of government funds, suggesting that too much money was being directed towards infrastructure while resettlement and disaster protection measures for residents in vulnerable areas received insufficient attention.

“While we continue to invest in these projects, there’s a need to balance development with the environment,” Versoza added. “We need proper flood control measures, especially along the rivers, to prevent further devastation during storm surges.”

The damage to the Baywalk infrastructure has led to renewed calls for a more sustainable approach to urban development, one that takes into account the preservation of natural defenses and the well-being of local communities, he said. (Ahikam Pasion)