OTON, Iloilo-A P10 million-worth evacuation center will soon rise in Barangay Tagbac Sur here as a disaster preparedness measure.

A groundbreaking ceremony, graced by members of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council composed of the Office of Civil Defense, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG),National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), other agencies and United Nations-Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and LGU officials, was held yesterday.

The building, which will rise in a lot provided by Oton Local Government Unit, will have a conjugal room for married couples, breastfeeding room and child-friendly space.

“This will be a pilot evacuation center and the first in the Visayas. This could serve as a model for replication of other LGUs. Acknowledging that we already have a “new normal” and resiliency of Filipinos is one of the topmost agenda, this evacuation center can cater to massive evacuation needs,” said Rosario Sanagustin, head of DSWD6 Protective Services Unit.

“When disaster strikes and people will have to leave their homes and properties, some with trauma, we will be able to help them bounce back to normalcy through this center,” said Sanagustin.

She said that Oton is a strategic location as it is adjacent to Iloilo City where flooding happens, Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miag-ao and Antique Province. Also, it has access to the Iloilo International airport should there be strandees.

In response, Mayor Vicente Flores Jr. welcomed with enthusiasm the project as it also means a ready facility for his people.

Also present were UN-OCHA Humanitarian Affairs Officer Kenga Shandralinghan, Finance Officer Jessa Marzona and Atty. Carina Flores, administrator of Oton, and OCD representative Irma Villanueva./dswd6