ZAMBOANGA CITY — The national government, through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), is set to construct a PhP33.5 million evacuation center to house families displaced in times of calamities.
Dr. Elmeir Jade Apolinario, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) chief, on Monday said the construction of the evacuation center is expected to commence next month and to be completed within 180 calendar days.
Apolinario said the evacuation center, which will consist of three buildings, will be constructed in a 2,000 square meters lot in Barangay Cabatangan, this city. It could accommodate 500 families.
He said the construction of the center is in compliance with Republic Act 10121 that requires every cities to have its own evacuation center.
He said there will be no more disruption of classes as schools always serve as evacuation centers in time of calamities, both natural and man-made, once the evacuation is in place.
He said that two more evacuation centers will be built in Barangay Talisayan and another either in Curuan or Vitali.
“The moment we will have evacuation centers, the classes of the children will not be disturbed,” he said citing schools will no longer be used as evacuation centers.
At present, barangay covert courts and school classrooms serve as evacuation centers for families displaced by calamities.
Last week, a total of 4,385 families consisting of 21,189 individuals were house in barangay covert courts and classrooms as storm surge and flash flood inundated 23 of this city’s 98 barangays.
Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and the entry of typhoon Paolo last week into the country triggered the storm surge and flashflood in this city. (PNA)
