By Alexander Lopez/Philippine News Agency
The construction of the P34,140,000 regional evacuation center began on Thursday in Remedios T. Romualdez (RTR) town in Agusan del Norte.
In an interview, RTR Councilor Bernadette Daquipil told the Philippine News Agency that the project was undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways in Caraga.
“The evacuation center will be a great boost to the efforts of the municipality especially in safeguarding the lives of residents during the time of calamities such as floods,” Daquipil said.
She said previous weather disturbances have caused flooding in several barangays in RTR that forced residents to evacuate.
“Our gymnasium is not enough to house our evacuees as we have experienced in recent months. This evacuation center will ensure the safety of our affected residents in times of calamities,” Daquipil said.
The evacuation center project is constructed on a 2,000-square meter lot inside the seven-hectare land in Purok 10, Barangay Balang-balang.
The evacuation center can accommodate around 1,000 persons and comes with a kitchen, clinic, training hall, offices, basketball court, and an area for a generator set.
“Based on the program of work, the construction of the evacuation center will be completed in 330 days,” Daquipil said.
She added that the approval of the funding for the evacuation center was the result of the efforts of Mayor Richard Daquipil and the rest of the RTR municipal officials of RTR.
On Wednesday, the mayor, together with Agusan del Norte 2nd District Rep. Ma. Angelica Amante-Matba, and other municipal officials, led the groundbreaking in the area. (PNA)-rir
