DPWH installs new Boracay drainage system with latest technology

High density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic pipes can now be found lining the shores of Boracay, as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) prepares the installation of a new drainage system for the island.

Made with German technology, the HDPE plastic pipes are six meters in length and 1.2 meters in width. The new plastic pipes will be replacing the one-meter long reinforced concrete pipes that the DPWH originally used in Boracay’s drainage system.

The HDPE plastic pipes are known to have a lifespan of 100 years, according to DPWH Secretary Mark Villar.

Villar assured the speedy installation of the new drainage system as well as its durability. He also expressed confidence that the new storm drains would be able to solve the flooding problems on the island.

One of the most prominent qualities of HDPE plastic pipes is their capacity to contain man-made chemicals and solid waste, which prevents leakage and contamination issues.

A total of 800 HDPE pipes are set to be used for the first phase of the project, and Boracay is just one of the first places in the country where this type of drainage system will exist.

The total cost of the five-kilometer drainage project is P540-million. The DPWH aims to complete the installation by October in time for the re-opening of Boracay to tourists.