The evacuation center constructed by the national government through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in barangay Cabatangan is ongoing with over 10% accomplishment rate.

City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Dr. Elmeir Apolinario said the project is implemented by a private contractor under the supervision of the DPWH. He said the project has encountered delays due to some issues related to the building permit.

The Cabatangan evacuation facility costs P34M and consists of 3 buildings that can accommodate some 500 families. It is being built on a 2,000 square meter lot owned by the city government.

Two other evacuation centers are expected to be constructed by the DPWH- one for the west coast and another one for the east coast.

Apolinario said the evacuation center projects in the city were made possible through the intervention of former Undersecretary Alexander Pama of the Civil Defense, who exhausted all means to include the funding appropriation for Zamboanga City in the budget.

He said the proposed evacuation centers will cater to families displaced both by natural or man-made calamities.

Providing evacuation centers is DPWH’s share to the increasing need for improving the resiliency and preparedness of the country in terms of disaster response.

Meanwhile, Apolinario said the local government has also appropriated funds for the construction of additional evacuation centers in the barangays as approved by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC).

He said the 98 barangays were divided into 12 clustered barangays with each cluster to be provided with one evacuation center, one fire team and one emergency team. (Sheila Covarrubias) (photos: Kathy Wee Sit)