SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – Strong waves brought about by the southwest monsoon and enhanced by Tropical Storm Maring have destroyed a seawall in the coastal municipality of Sebaste.
The waves battered the seawall that finally gave way last night, Poblacion Punong Barangay Gregorio Bendol said in an interview Wednesday.
“The seawall is about 100 meters in length and was constructed about five years ago,” he said.
Its construction was funded under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Following its collapse, he said they immediately evacuated three families composed of 15 individuals whose houses were flooded and were eventually damaged.
“We are right now taking care of the evacuees in our barangay hall,” he said.
Three other families opted though to stay in their houses despite being partially damaged.
Bendol added that they need around P2 million to rebuild the seawall.
Meanwhile, five families of 30 individuals, who are residents of Barangay Aras-asan in the same municipality, have returned to their homes after they were temporarily evacuated at the Aras-asan Elementary School on Tuesday night.
Aras-asan Punong Barangay Shirley Mana-ay of Sebaste, said the high tide caused cracks on two concrete houses and partially damaged four other houses made of light materials, so they have to evacuate the families living in those structures.
She added that the seawater usually floods their barangay due to the absence of a seawall to serve as a barrier.
She said they need around P5 million to construct a seawall.