TUGUEGARAO CITY”•Region 2 Director Melanio C. Briosos of the Department of Public Works and Highways spearheaded the recent groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the first Regional Evacuation Complex at Barangay San Gabriel here.
Cagayan Gov. Manuel N. Mamba, the event’s guest of honor, said the P34-million typhoon-proof evacuation center will ensure the safety of evacuees in the province in times of calamity, noting the provincial government will see to it the edifice can withstand any disaster.
“If there’s one structure that should be the last to collapse, it should be the evacuation center,” Mamba said.
Briosos said the evacuation center will provide emergency service and public assistance before, during and immediately after disasters, not only to reduce the number of casualties but “to reduce health impacts and meet basic subsistence needs of displaced persons during disasters.”
“DPWH is committed in fulfilling its mandate as one of the agencies involved in disaster preparedness, response and relief operations. We are taking the lead in the designing and building resilient and formidable evacuation centers,” Briosos added.
“We are hoping that this project will be completed on time, or better, ahead of schedule, which is expected within 270 calendar days.” he stressed.
Wilzon A. Valdez Jr., DPWH PIO, said in a press release, the evacuation center will consist of eight separate buildings and a two-story main evacuation center building with an area of 838 square meters that will accommodate a 128-bed capacity hospital and a dining area.
Other facilities will include food preparation and dishwashing areas, a communication room, a prayer room, a breastfeeding area and storage room, toilets, a three-story laundry and drying area including a water tank; a two-story operations office and infirmary building; a generator room with a 200 KVA generator set; a water pump room; and a 33 square meter garbage disposal building.
Engr. Jaime P. Catolos Jr, the OIC-Chief of the province’s Planning and Design Division, said six regional evacuation complexes remain to be built. Three are earmarked for Cagayan province in Lallo, Gonzaga, and Tuao towns, another in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, and two more in Isabela province.
The construction of these centers is in response to the climate change adaptation and mitigation program of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, and is approved by the member agencies of the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council.
This is also is relative to Republic Act 10121 otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Act of 2010.
Cagayan Provincial Office officials, representatives from Department of Social Welfare and Development and Office of the Civil Defense, DPWH-2 Planning and Design Head Jaime P. Catolos Jr., and other employees and dignitaries attended the event.
