To prevent erosion, mitigation in Laolao Beach proposed

To protect the pristine waters of the Laolao Beach, Precinct 5 Rep. Lorenzo Deleon Guerrero (R-Saipan) is proposing for the erosion mitigation in Laolao Drive to prevent runoffs into the beach. (L. MAURIN)

The mitigation of the Laolao Beach is one of the priority projects for the year of Precinct 5 Rep. Lorenzo Deleon Guerrero (R-Saipan).

“One of the projects that I’m proposing to be funded under the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery funds is for the mitigation of the Laolao Bay Beach, the Laolao Bay Drive,” Deleon Guerrero said.

Super Typhoon Yutu slammed the area causing massive erosion on the roads, and the representative is hoping that the Department of Public Works would regard its mitigation as a priority under the CDBG disaster recovery funds.

Laolao Bay Drive serves as the only roadway to residents in the area, for tourists, especially divers who utilize that road for their leisure time diving, or for those sightseeing on the beach, and for locals who go to Laolao Bay Beach to have picnics.

Laolao is also a sensitive area because it involves the island’s watershed systems, and is home to marine resources.

“That’s where the water comes from, the mountains, and if we don’t place any measures to prevent from erosion, it basically pollutes the beach. So, it’s very important that we do something about it,” Deleon Guerrero said.

“The Laolao Bay Area, the beach area is a very sensitive area, environmentally sensitive and we need to be very cautious and know how to prevent any future erosion coming [from] either natural disaster or even human activities,” he added.

Every year, to mitigate coastal erosion, the U.S. federal government spends an average of $150 million on beach nourishment and shoreline erosion control measures.

The House vice speaker also applauded Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality for placing trash disposal bins on beach sites where people can segregate, and for securing grants to build runoff beach ways in the watersheds.

“Every waterway that goes from the mountains towards the beach, at times, you cannot pass because it’s all eroded. So, what they did is they placed concrete caps along the road so that the water can flow continuously without any activities from mixing debris and trash,” the representative said.

To maintain the quality of the beach, Deleon Guerrero encourages everybody utilizing public beaches to “be mindful of not trashing the area. Pick up the trash, bring it home, properly dispose them following rules and regulations and laws because we do have litter control enforcement laws.”