The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is hastening the completion of the first five evacuation centers in the Cordillera Administrative Region to address the need for temporary shelters of persons and families affected in times of disasters.
The construction activities located at Sitio Payanan, San Gregorio, Apayao is leading in the physical accomplishment at 48.29%; followed by the project at Mudi-it, Dolores, Abra at 33.81%. The construction of evacuation centers at Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet, Lagawe, Ifugao and Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga are also being accelerated.
The standard DPWH-designed evacuation center is an eco-friendly, gender-friendly complex situated in a lot with at least 3,000 square meters and could accommodate 130 individuals or 33 families at a time.
Each facility has a two-storey building where the dining, kitchen, wash rooms, breastfeeding, storage, communications and accommodation areas are located. Two separate buildings are allocated for toilet and bathrooms for male and female, respectively. A building for each the pharmacy and infirmary; wash area; and water tank, laundry and drying area is provided. The complex has also a pump room, generator room, garbage disposal facility, and a parking and assembly area. The grounds are accessible to motor vehicles with driveways surrounding the complex.
The Philippines is highly vulnerable to natural calamities due to its geographical location, and CAR is among the identified areas in the country that has the widest threat of geological hazards.
These projects being undertaken in cooperation with the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Local Government Units (LGU) aim to build evacuation centers in the region to house families that are possibly at risk in the event of a disaster.
Once completed, the evacuation centers will be turned over for the management of the LGUs.