By Betheena Unite Three new evacuation centers that will benefit three provinces in Region 12 have already been completed, the Department of Public Works Highways (DPWH) announced Wednesday. (DPWH / MANILA BULLETIN) The three evacuation facilities, according to DPWH Regional Director Basir Ibrahim, were built to be hazard‐adaptive and needs‐sensitive centers. The evacuation facilities are located in Barangay Bunao, Tupi, South Cotabato; Barangay Buayan, General Santos City; and Barangay Rosal Street, Carmen, North Cotabato. The construction of the evacuation facility in Tupi South Cotabato started in June 2017, while the construction of the facilities in General Santos City and North Cotabato started in January 2018. “In an effort to provide safe and efficient shelter in times of typhoons and other calamities, we are building disaster-resilient evacuation centers complete with necessary facilities in strategic areas of Soccsksargen. So far, we have completed three and five are under construction,” Ibrahim said. Five more evacuation center projects are being constructed in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat; Kiamba, Sarangani; Cotabato City, Maguindanao; Lebak, Sultan Kudarat; and Tulunan, North Cotabato. Each evacuation center is being built in an area not less than 2,610 square meters to provide enough space and facilities receptive to the needs of up to 400 people displaced by disasters, Ibrahim said. Each center includes a well-lit and sufficiently ventilated accommodation building; an office and infirmary building; separate toilet and bathrooms for male and female; laundry and drying area; water tank building; generator room, pump room; garbage disposal area; parking area and assembly area. In recent interviews, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said that the department was building more evacuation centers across the country in order to do away with disrupting classes during calamities.