The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said that it has built a new seawall structure that protects the fishing community in Dingalan town in Aurora from the onslaught of strong typhoons and heavy rains of long duration.

In 2020, typhoon Ulysses brought a storm surge of more than seven meters high that caused hundreds of boats to crash into homes in Barangay Paltic.

DPWH Region 3 Director Roseller Tolentino stated in his report to DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan that the completed project in Barangay Paltic is a 355-lineal meter seawall undertaken by the DPWH Aurora District Engineering Office (DEO).

He noted that the structure also features roadway ramps, reinforced concrete pipe culverts for cross drainage, grouted riprap opposite the seawall, and a gravel roadway over the embankment with a width of five meters.

Bonoan said “delivering the structure is a necessity to ensure the protection of the local fishing community from storm surges and rising waters during heavy rains and bad weather as it directly faces Dingalan Bay.’’

“The new seawall also serves as a place where local fishermen can secure their boats during extreme weather condition by mooring them next to the structure,” Bonoan continued.