Rehabilitation of a seawall and a flood control project in Vigan City damaged by a magnitude 7 earthquake in 2022 will now proceed following the release of PHP200 million funding from the national government.

Vigan City Mayor Jose Singson announced this on Tuesday following the release by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) of PHP100 million each for the repair of the Barangay Mindoro seawall and the flood control project along the Mestizo River.

“We are grateful for the release of the amount to better serve our constituents,” he said, citing that the funding was included in the infrastructure project priorities chargeable against the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund under the 2023 national budget.

The seawall is the villagers’ first line of defense against storm surge and the rise of seawater.

Meanwhile, flood-control structures are being built in Ilocos Sur province to prevent coastal erosion and protect the homes and livelihood of local communities frequently visited by typhoons.

Vigan City, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, was hit hard by the 2022 earthquake.

Aside from popular tourist sites and cultural landmarks, there are several other major infrastructure projects that were damaged during the earthquake. (PNA)