A modernized and climate-resilient P36-million worth evacuation center, capable of providing convenience and necessary amenities to evacuees, has been officially inaugurated and turned over to the municipality of Brooke’s Point by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Friday, October 25 in Barangay Tubtob.
DPWH together with other stakeholder agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the local government unit of Brooke’s Point collaborated a year ago in planning and making a modernized evacuation center to be utilized not just by the citizens of the town but as well as other neighboring municipalities in need.
The state-of-the-art two-storey disaster resilient building can accommodate an estimated 150 families and provide essential amenities such as clinic and a pharmacy, also including its own laundry building, male and female comfort rooms and a climate-resilient power facility.
Brooke’s Pt. Mayor Mary Jean Feliciano, in a phone interview with Palawan Daily News, said that their municipality has been lucky enough to be chosen as one of the recepients of the project aside from the island municipality of Coron located in Northern Palawan.
Feliciano also said that Brooke’s Pt. has a strategic location, being at the center of other southern towns such as Bataraza, Quezon, Rizal and Sofronio Española.
“Last year ‘yan nasimulan tapos mga two years ago noong na-inform kami na napili’ yung Brooke’s Pt. para magkaroon ng regional evacuation center,” Feliciano said.
“Very thankful kami kasi marami namang munisipyo pero napili kami. Alam namin dahil sa location namin, very strategic ‘yung location ng Brooke’s Pt. kaya kami napili,” Feliciano added.
Feliciano said that some of the rooms and function hall of the evacuation center will also serve as offices and training centers for rescue education inclined to equipped individuals and volunteers about risk reduction information.
“For now, gamitin din namin ‘yung other rooms and hall as offices kapag may mga seminars regarding risk-reduction, trainings, mga ganyan,” Feliciano said.
The local government unit of Brooke’s Pt. will mandate the management and maintenance of the evacuation center.