MANILA — The Tourism Infrastructure Economic Zone Authority (TIEZA) is expediting the construction of a temporary discharge pipeline to fast-track rehabilitation activities in Boracay before the onset of the rainy season.
Working side-by-side with the departments of environment and public works, TIEZA hopes to complete the temporary outfall project by July.
The permanent outfall will be completed by January next year.
The temporary discharge pipeline will prevent flooding in various underground utilities and road construction projects while TIEZA and the public works department augment their de-clogging activities in the drainage systems and sewerage facilities of Boracay.
The outfall will have a discharge pipe extended up to 800 meters off the shore of Bolabog beach. It will cater drainage water from central Boracay.
The water to be discharged from this outfall will be treated before being released to the continental shelf.
According to TIEZA, this temporary outfall is part of the task force’s action plan to ensure that the six-month rehabilitation of Boracay would be unhampered even during the June to December rainy season.
TIEZA has already hastened the implementation of Phase 2 of the Boracay Drainage Improvement Project.
Phase 2, among others, targets to finish the construction of four more pumping stations and three sea outfall pipelines.
The mandate of TIEZA in Boracay’s rehabilitation program, pursuant to Executive Order No. 53 that created the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force, is to undertake the completion of the drainage system, to work with the department of public works in establishing flood control infrastructures, and to ensure the completion of the expansion of the water and sewerage system in Boracay Island’s three barangays.
TIEZA is the infrastructure arm of the Department of Tourism. (PNA)
