By John Rey Saavedra/PNA

CEBU CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-7) in Central Visayas on Tuesday turned over its first evacuation center project to the local government of Tagbilaran City.
DPWH-7 Assistant Regional Director Mario Montejo told the Philippine News Agency that Tagbilaran city is one of the first recipients of the evacuation center project typically designed for the area.
Montejo said the evacuation center project is located in Barangay Dao, Tagbilaran City and was constructed at a total cost of PHP36 million.
The project was undertaken by the DPWH regional office in Central Visayas but funded by the national government, through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Montejo said.
Construction of evacuation centers are done nationwide, he noted.
“The LGU of Tagbilaran City provided the land area of 3,000 square meters as part of requirement in availing the project,” Montejo said. “Technically, this area was able to pass the criteria and specification set forth by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.”
“The department appreciates the effort of the LGU of Tagbilaran City in making this project possible since some interested LGUs all over the country wasn’t able to provide the needed lot,” he said.
The evacuation is specifically designed and built to answer for the evacuation needs of Tagbilaran City should any calamity occur, the assistant regional director told the PNA.
The center has eight buildings consisting of an infirmary office, accommodation building, generator room, water tank, laundry and drying area, female and male bathroom, garbage disposal area, and pump room.
“All the said facilities were designed to address the needed convenient environment of the evacuees considering the fact that they are the directly affected individuals and victims in the event of calamities,” he said.
DPWH-7 started constructing the project in August last year and completed it September this year.
