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A two-storey Multi-Purpose Evacuation Center facility (MPEC) has been completed in the calamity-prone Bicol Region.
The modern structure in Brgy. Tomolin was inaugurated in 2023.
This state-of the-art facility, funded by PAGCOR, is the seventh MPEC to be completed in Bicol and the second in Albay. Legazpi City is the first recipient of the project in Albay that completed the construction of the two-storey evacuating facility.
Fernando Gonzalez, Mayor of Ligao City, said that the proximity of the Mayon Volcano to Ligao City and the Bicol Region to the Pacific Ocean makes the locals highly vulnerable to natural disasters.
He said that Ligao was always on alert for various types of disasters. “From tropical depressions and typhoons which often form in Pacific Ocean, to volcanic eruptions and flooding, Ligao experiences a variety of calamities.”
While the city government will often preemptively evacuate during disasters, it does not have enough resources to provide everyone a temporary, safe shelter.
“We had difficulty in the past with housing evacuees because most of our evacuation centers are schools. Classrooms are not designed to be used as evacuation centers, because they were built for teaching. “Those who are temporarily looking for shelter will experience a lot of inconvenience in classrooms.”
The city of Ligao, with the completion of the PAGCOR two-storey emergency evacuation facility, is confident they will be able to better respond to the needs and concerns of its residents during emergencies. Gonzalez stated that the PAGCOR evacuation facility is designed to meet all of the needs of the evacuees, including sanitation, storage, ventilation and other requirements.
Each MPEC, worth P50million, is designed to be multi-purpose. It has a kitchen, toilets, showers for men and women, nursing rooms for mothers who are breastfeeding, and an area large enough for a badminton court that can be used for training, sports, or other events.
Ramon Stephen Villaflor, Vice President of PAGCOR’s Corporate Social Responsibility Group, said that the state-run gambling firm has been true to its commitment in nation-building through giving support to those areas or sectors most in need.
“PAGCOR is aware that the Bicol Region has been the source of many natural disasters. Global warming will make typhoons more powerful, so it is important to protect communities that are vulnerable. This newly built evacuation facility in Ligao, is just one way we can help mitigate the harsh effects of climate change. Villaflor added that this is a testimony to the close coordination of local government units with national government agencies.
A total of 28 MPECs are currently completed and revealed across the country, while another 50 are still under construction.
