Capitol to build 6 evac centers

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has announced the impending construction of at least six evacuation centers for Cebu Province.

These are all funded by the provincial government and will be built in the towns of Boljoon, Carmen, Pilar, Sibonga, Sta. Fe, and Ronda.

PDRRMO Chief Baltazar Tribunalo said that the towns with high vulnerability hazard assessment results were the ones prioritized to be the recipients.

Each evacuation center costs P5 to P6 million, depending on the area where the center will be built, according to Fe Montaño of the Operations, Recovery and Rehabilitation Division.

Location hazards, soil quality, and accessibility are some of the factors which may affect the price of each project.

Montaño said each center has a capacity of over 100 individuals. Facilities such as kitchen, bathrooms, and toilets are also part of the building.

If not used as evacuation centers, the infrastructures are to serve as multipurpose halls which can be used for community events.

The lots where the centers will be erected are also owned by the respective local government units. In case it is a donated property, a deed of lot donation will have to be secured by the PDRRMO.

Aside from the Capitol, Tribunalo said the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) also plans to build evacuation centers in the towns of Asturias, Dalaguete, Medellin, and in Cebu City. At present, schools are the ones utilized as evacuation centers during calamities.

Tribunalo is hoping that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will fulfill its promise to construct additional evacuation centers.