The Iloilo City government has allotted a 5,000-square meter property in the Jaro district’s Barangay Tacas for the Office of the Civil Defense to construct a P36.5 million regional evacuation center and warehouse.
“We are very happy to enter with this partnership,” said Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas. “We look forward for the construction of the two infrastructure [projects], which will be done, hopefully, early next year.”
“This will make the city and the region resilient for disasters,” he added.
Office of the Civil Defense Regional Director Jose Roberto R. Nuñez said, once completed, the facility will be able to accommodate around 530 families while the warehouse will store non-food items and can be used by the Department of Social Welfare and Development during relief operations.
“We don’t have a proper evacuation center here,” he pointed out. “We would like to extend our gratefulness (sic) to the city government for this.”
Last August, a P32-million evacuation center  was opened in Zarraga, Iloilo.
The facility is able to accommodate 33 families with beds, along with another 130 individuals without beds, and is home to an infirmary, pharmacy, toilets, and laundry facilities.
The center also includes a storage room that can be converted for other purposes.
Out of the total 11 evacuation centers in the region, six have already been completed and are located in Kalibo, Aklan; San Jose de Buenavista, Antique; Carles, Iloilo; along with two in Negros Occidental, in Bago City and San Carlos City./WDJ