BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—The Department of Public Works and Highways will be constructing a P25-million Provincial Evacuation Center within the provincial capitol in this capital town.
Gov. Carlos Padilla said the PEC will be constructed on a 3,000-square-meter vacant lot at the back of the People’s Hall or the Sangguniang Panlalawigan building.
“The construction will start next week, which will be jointly supervised by the DPWH and the Provincial Engineering Office,” he said.
The 8R-structured two-story building will offer a ground floor, two toilets, 67-bed capacity infirmary, pharmacy, laundry, water tank, drying area, cooking area, storage area, assembly and parking area, and offices of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office and the Office of Civil Defense, among others.
The provincial government earlier proposed the PEC to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council to address the need for an evacuation center in the province and in support of the nationwide disaster risk reduction management program.
The PEC is the first to be constructed in the Cagayan Valley region because it has met the requirements of the NDRRMC. Provincial engineer Manolo Norial said the PEC was immediately approved and endorsed by the Regional Development Council because of its strategic location.
“The bidding lowered the project cost of the PEC from P36 million to P31 million, but we will use the savings for other needs of the project,” he said.
Padilla added the PEC will be a big help in disaster risk reduction efforts of the provincial government, considering the huge effect of strong typhoons on the province.
He said previous typhoons have flooded low-lying villages, causing forced evacuation of the affected villagers to designated evacuation centers of municipal local government units.
“This can accommodate other villagers who will no longer be accommodated by their respective evacuation centers, including others who need immediate refuge during disasters and calamities,” he said.
The province is prone to landslides and flash floods during strong rains spawned by typhoons from September to December each year.