DPWH XII to build a 36 million Regional Evacuation Center in Koronadal
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region XII is set to build a Regional Evacuation Center at Barangay San Jose, City of Koronadal.
With a projected allocation of Php36,000,000 with an area of 3,000 sqm, RD Basir Ibrahim, Regional Director of DPWH XI, vowed to give priority to the city if construction funds were available in his office, as Koronadal is a regional hub. He added that this could be the basis for further development of the regional center.
RD Ibrahim further said that having a project construction in the city is the answer to Mayor Eliordo Ogena’s prayer for available livelihood for the Koronadaleño and that the people’s money will just revolve in the city.
RD Ibrahim also praised RD Minda Morante of the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) XII for being enthusiastic in negotiating with their office to pursue the project construction because in reality, many Local Government Units (LGUs) do not want to accept the evacuation project for they believe that it has a negative impact on the locality. Meanwhile, Morante as OCD RD was tasked to find a place for the project construction.
RD Morante, on the other hand, urged the LGU to take good care of the building when it is fully operational, as it will serve not only as a regional evacuation center but also as a COVID-19 facility. Aside from this, she also said that not only the Barangay of San Jose will benefit from it, but the neighboring places in the region as well. The officer also expressed gratitude to the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CDRRM) Officer Cyrus Urbano,
who initiated the latter.
Meanwhile, City Mayor Eliordo Ogena is very pleased with the project. He said this is what construction workers needed now-to earn for a living as one (1) of the sectors that is most affected by the pandemic.
The mayor was also enthusiastic about implementing all the projects funded by the national government, not only because it could bring income to the unemployed Koronadeleños but also because it could contribute to the economic recovery.
The Regional Evacuation Center is funded by the National Government through the DPWH XII with a single storey building structure, 1,450 m² floor plan and multi-purpose facility.
The construction is expected to start soon after the groundbreaking and capsuling ceremony attended by Mayor Ogena, DPWH XII RD Ibrahim, ODC XII RD Morante, Barangay Capt. Danilo Simtim of San Jose and some LGU employee’s and department heads.