TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan, (PIA) - - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office 02 has completed the construction of the first evacuation complex in Cagayan Valley, which will serve as provisional venue for evacuees in times of disasters.
DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, together with Regional Director Melanio C. Briosos and other national and regional public works officials, personally visited on October 11, 2018 the evacuation center located at Barangay San Gabriel in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
Villar said the DPWH has allocated P34, 191, 339 million for the construction of the first Regional Evacuation Complex, consisting of eight separate buildings that include a two-storey main evacuation center building with an area of 838 square meters.
The complex has 128-bed capacity and a dining area, kitchen, communication room, prayer room, breast feeding area and storage room.
Other structures include toilet/bathroom facilities for male and female; three-storey laundry/drying area including water tank; two-storey operations office and infirmary building; generator room with a 200 KVA generator set; water pump room; and a 33 sq. meter garbage disposal building.
Briosos said the evacuation center will provide emergency service and public assistance before, during and immediately after disasters/calamities to reduce if not totally prevent casualties and also to reduce physical impact that may affect the health of the residents. Moreover, it was established to provide impact 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.
According to Engr. Jaime P. Catolos Jr, the oic-chief of the Planning and Design Division (PDD), there are still six remaining regional evacuation complex which will be built: three for Cagayan Province located in Lallo, Gonzaga, and Tuao towns; one in Bayombong, Nueva Vizvaya; and another two evacuation complex in Isabela Province.
The DPWH secretary said that the construction of these centers is in response to 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 (NDRRMC) and in line with the compliance called for under Republic Act 10121 otherwise known as the Philippine Disaster Act of 2010. (MDCT/With reports from DPWHRO2/PIA 2)
