DPWH completes second regional evacuation center in NegOcc

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Regional Office VI completed the construction of Regional Evacuation Center in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, the second regional evacuation center in the province after the one in Bago City, which was opened last year.

According to Engr. Oliver E. Zamora, chief of the DPWH Regional Office Maintenance Division, the P36-million project involved the construction of various buildings to include the main or the accommodation building, office and infirmary building, laundry and drying area, male and female toilet and bath, pump room, generator room and materials recovery facility (MRF).

“The evacuation center will serve as temporary shelter for around 33 families or about 130 individuals from the City and neighboring towns in times of calamities and disasters,” Zamora said.

The facility was turned over recently to the Local Government Unit of San Carlos City by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), followed by the signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) together with the officials from the DPWH and other government agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division (DSWD-DRRMD), and the Department of Health (DOH).

Meantime, nine more evacuation centers will open soon to cater and provide shelter to the people when the need arises. Said centers are located in Sagay City and Bacolod City in Negros Occidental, Roxas City in Capiz, San Jose in Antique, Kalibo in Aklan, Nueva Valencia in Guimaras, and the towns of Carles, San Miguel and Zarraga in Iloilo.

In addition, with these evacuation centers, schools will not be utilized as temporary shelters anymore, thus, classes will not be disrupted and students will not be displaced. (DPWH-6/RPAIO)