LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – Officials inaugurated a P750-million convention and evacuation center at the Bicol University here on Tuesday, Feb. 28.

Alfredo Garbin Jr., executive director of Ako Bicol party-list, said that the Bicol University Convention and Disaster Risk Reduction and Response Facility (BU-CDRRRF) is a multi-purpose facility that can be used for conventions, temporary evacuation center, training center for DRR, and store DRR equipment for disaster response.

‘’Mention has to be made to the late Congressman Rodel Batocabe. You know in the 17th Congress, he was responsible for preparing the concept papers with regards to this Bicol University Convention and Disaster Risk Reduction and Response Facility. The idea is to have a convention center, a multi-purpose use not only for socio-civic activities, as well as sports activities, conventions, but also a venue we can converge itong mga (these) activities when it comes to disaster risk reduction and a response facility wherein pagtataguan ng mga ekepahe (equipment can be stored) when it comes to disaster response,” Garbin said.

Garbin said that the facility, an initiative of the Ako Bicol party-list initiative through the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2018, has a floor area of 16,000-square meters and can accommodate a maximum of 10,000 delegates during conventions.

“Nakikita ninyo massive (You can say it is massive). Siguro (Maybe) easily we can say 10,000 makakapasok (can enter). Massive, kaya naman masaya tayo dahil dito pa mismo sa lalawigan ng Albay (we are happy because it is in the province of Albay),” Garbin said.

Garbin noted that the project is a continuing appropriation since the facility is not yet complete.

“Good thing that the vice chair of Committee on Appropriations is here, Congressman Jil Bongalon, para makita nila kung ano pa ang pagkukulang (so that they can see what is lacking). The chairman, which is Congressman Zaldy Co, the Committee on Appropriations, is attending right now the budget coordinating committee or DBCC, kasi budget call na ngayon (now is the budget call) for the 2024 budget that they have to prepare,” he added.

Garbin said that Co assured that the project will be fully funded and completed.

“Congressman Zaldy Co assured, andito ang kanyang vice chair na makukumpleto sa paglalagay ng kinakailangan na pondo (Congressman Zaldy Co assured, his vice chairman is here, that the project would be fully funded and complete),” Garbin said.