The government stepped up its disaster risk reduction efforts with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) completing six (6) evacuation centers in Region 5 to serve as safe and efficient shelter to Bicolanos in times of calamities
In his report to DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar, DPWH Region 5 Director Virgilio Eduarte said that a total of P258-million was allocated for the construction of evacuation centers in Barangay Tughan, Juban, Sorsogon; Municipality of Virac, Catanduanes; Barangay Cadlan, Pili, Camarines Sur; Barangay Sto. Domingo, Vinzons, Camarines Norte; Barangay Balading, Malinao Albay; and Barangay Bolod, San Pascual, Burias Island, Masbate.
Located in disaster-resilient areas avoiding faults and no-build zones, the evacuation centers have a minimum lot area of 3,000 square meters and were constructed in accordance with the National Building Code of the Philippines, allowing it to withstand wind speed of 250-kilometers per hour (kph) and seismic activity of at least 7.0 magnitude.
Each center houses a 2-storey accommodation building, a 2-storey office and infirmary building, a toilet and bath building, 3-storey laundry and drying building, and a single-storey disposal building as well as a powerhouse and guardhouse.
The accommodation building has separate areas for dining, food preparation and dishwashing, meditation, breastfeeding, communication, and storage while the infirmary building houses the pharmacy.
“To ensure that the centers are gender responsive and persons with disability (PWD) friendly, the buildings are provisioned with separate comfort rooms for male and female, wheelchair ramps, running water, railings, and proper lighting,” said Director Eduarte.
Two (2) other evacuation centers are on-going in Sitio Tubog, Zone 1 in the Municipality of Libon, Albay and in Barangay Caliliog in the Municipality of Tinambac, Camarines Sur to provide safe and reliable facilities in the event of calamities,” added Director Eduarte.