THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will submit today to the Department of Public Works and Highways a “double-layered” seawall design that will not only withstand the beatings of strong typhoons but could also transform the Baywalk area into a tourism hub.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the cost of a second seawall, modeled on a similar design in Galveston, Texas, is much higher than the estimated P30 million for the repair of the seawall.

Tolentino said although the cost is higher, the structure is much more cost-effective in the long run. The seawall collapsed duing the storm surge caused by typhoon “Pedring” last week.

“We will repair and improve the damaged seawall. But after that we should create another seawall about 10 meters away from the first. The first layer will serve as the first line of defense before water could even hit the shore,” Tolentino said.

The MMDA chairman said the two seawalls will be connected by a bridge which can be used as promenade area by foreign and local tourists.

Earlier, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim said any repairs on the damaged seawall should focus not only on its stability and durability, but also on  impro-ving it aesthetically.

The DPWH has already released a preliminary design for a new and modern seawall featuring the same height as the damaged structure but much wider.

From the old seawall’s thickness of 70 centimeters, the DPWH plans to make it one meter thick.