By Philippine News Agency
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional office here has completed the construction of two disaster-resilient evacuation centers in the province, which will serve as temporary shelters of residents who will be displaced in times of calamities.
DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, together with other regional public works officials, personally visited on Thursday the evacuation center located in Barangay San Roque, Mexico town.
The other evacuation center is situated in Barangay Sta. Catalina, also in Mexico town.
Villar said the construction of disaster-resilient evacuation center is one of the priorities of the DPWH to enhance the preparedness and response capabilities of communities to disasters and emergencies.
“The construction of evacuation center aims to minimize the impact of calamities, such as strong typhoons that perennially hit Pampanga and other provinces in the country,” he said.
The evacuation centers cost PHP36 million each.
It features an accommodation building with dining room, food preparation/dishwashing area, communication room, breastfeeding, and storage.
The project also includes a separate toilet and bathroom; laundry and drying area; water tank; generator and pump rooms; and garbage disposal facilities, among others.
“Most importantly, they are seismic resistant,” the DPWH Secretary said.
He ordered the immediate turnover of the centers to the local government.
The San Roque and Sta. Catalina evacuation centers are among the first completed in a network of DPWH evacuation center projects nationwide as part of its disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation program towards livable, sustainable and resilient communities.