P32M set aside for evacuation center

Since temporary shelter has been a primary concern during disasters, Cebu City will soon have its own evacuation center that can accommodate around 200 families, said Katherine dela Calzada of the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office.

She said the construction of the P32-million building will commence within the year, however, some lot issues have yet to be ironed out.

Harold Alcontin of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office is confident that formal groundbreaking will be this coming July.

This project is a joint-initiative with the local disaster units; the Armed Forces of the PhilippinesCentral Command (Centcom); the Department of Public Works and Highways; and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), to which the budget was coursed from.

The involved agencies are yet to forge an agreement after all legalities are settled, said dela Calzada.

Under the proposal, dela Calzada said that aside from being an evacuation center, this building will also serve as a multi-purpose facility that will have conference rooms and offices, which includes the OCD’s regional office.

Dela Calzada said it will also be complete with amenities and will also have its own material recovery facility and rainwater catchment.

The center will be built at the 3,000-square meter lot owned by AFP’s CentCom in Barangay Apas, Cebu City. The area is enough to house around 200 families.

However, proponents are still resolving property issues since six to 10 houses is seen to be directly affected by this project.

“We have conducted site inspection. Aduna’y posibleng marelocate. We identified so far six to seven houses that may be directly affected,” said Alcontin, noting that these households are already made aware and will be consulted about the project.

Once the center will be successful, dela Calzada said this project may be replicated too in other cities or municipalities within the province.

This project marks a good partnership of different government entities that seeks to initiate proactive measure for disaster preparedness wherein a facility is available to shelter temporarily families that may be displaced in case of disasters like typhoons, she said.

This proposal was one of the salient discussions brought up yesterday during the radio-live forum dubbed “Kapihan sa PIA” organized by the Philippine Information Agency of Cebu province.

In line with the observance of Typhoon and Flood Awareness Week this June 19 to 24, topics are on climate change mitigation and adaptation, among others.