By Eva C. Visperas

 

DURING the recent onslaught of Typhoon Kristine, four of us ladies working in media ventured to the Capitol area in Lingayen to observe the flooding and storm surge plus high tide and strong wind that affected the vicinity, particularly along the Baywalk.

We braved the storm, riding together in a friend’s Toyota Innova, driven by our desire for factual reporting. As we navigated the familiar area, typically our Monday rendezvous for covering the Sangguniang Panlalawigan sessions, we could only exclaim, “Oh my God,” at the devastation around us.

With over three decades in journalism, I had never encountered a situation quite like this. We took photographs of the inundated landscape in the Capitol complex, knowing the importance of documenting the impact of the storm.

Two days later, as the sun began to shine again, I received a call from a congressman’s staff, inviting me to discuss an important matter in their office. Upon arrival, I found Congressman Mark Cojuangco and his team in short pants, t-shirt and sneakers, ready to assess the Baywalk’s condition post-storm.

Despite the scorching noon heat, my curiosity won out, and I agreed to join them. We made several stops along the bumpy Baywalk, littered with sand washed in by the storm surge. I whispered to myself, “Grabe, ganito pala ang nangyari,” as we took in the damage.

During our stops, Congressman Mark explained the situation on video and spoke with local residents, many of whom relied on fishing for their livelihood. As they recognized the need for a seawall, they chanted, “Seawall! Seawall! Seawall!”

One resident, Noel Gonzales from Barangay Maniboc, shared how his banca was destroyed by the strong waves. He appealed for assistance, expressing uncertainty about how to replace it after pooling resources with three other fishermen to purchase it.

As more locals approached, pleading for food, the congressman quickly arranged for a delivery of pancit and chicken adobo by his staff.

We continued to Limahong Channel, navigating through heaps of sand that made travel difficult for small vehicles. Congressman Mark’s initiative to seek help from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to clear the area was commendable. There were heavy equipment working there.

It took us nearly two hours of inspection then we headed back to his office. The congressman attended to other visitors.

Two days later, we had the opportunity to interview the congressman about the stalled seawall project. He expressed a strong desire for its completion but cited political interference as a significant obstacle.

Reflecting on the storm surge’s devastation, he couldn’t help but think how much worse it might have been without the unfinished seawall.

In discussions with my foreign students during my language tutorials, they unanimously affirmed the importance of seawalls in their countries, highlighting that such projects rarely faced opposition.

I had read a resolution signed by councilors and the mayor in Lingayen advocating for the seawall’s construction, similar to efforts in Binmaley. Unfortunately, political dynamics shifted during the construction process.

Looking back, I recalled a public hearing called by a top provincial official, where surprisingly, Congressman Mark was not invited. Fortunately, any “rifts” have since been mended for the people’s benefit, though I hope the reconciliation is genuine.

The seawall project began under the previous congressman and continued with the current one. Funding is available, but due to ongoing political maneuvering, it risks being reverted to the national treasury if construction remains stagnant.

“This (Lingayen-Binmaley seawall) is what we’ve been striving for over the past two years,” he stated emphatically.

The urgent need in Lingayen prompted a shift in funding priorities. “If there’s an issue, DPWH would not move forward. But they did. I simply requested a project move. After that, I had no further involvement. If there were problems, DPWH would have flagged them, but they found nothing wrong. They proceeded, issued a notice to proceed, and the contractor began work,” he said passionately.

The project had an initial budget of P75 million through the efforts of former Congressman Jumel Espino, with an additional P110 million allocated during Congressman Mark’s term. However, the project has now been stalled for several months, the reasons for which remain known only to a select few.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments