Evacuation center to rise in Tablon

• Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1007878
• Monday, May 14, 2018

By Elaine O. Ratunil (eor/JAO/CdeOSP)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) -- Cagayan de Oro will soon have a geohazards-free evacuation center.

The 18th City Council during its 82nd regular session presided over by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin Uy, enacted an ordinance authorizing the City Mayor to enter into and sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) covering the construction of an Evacuation Center in Barangay Tablon.

Considered as a flood and landslide prone area, Cagayan de Oro City is the recipient of the OCD project that will address immediate and quick response to multiple hazards such as earthquakes, typhoons, floods, volcanic eruptions, and landslides.

The construction of the Evacuation Center will be funded by the National Government in the amount of P35,460,000.00 which will be released upon completion of the necessary requirements for the project.

Under the MOA, the OCD regional office shall oversee the implementation of the project and take appropriate measures to ensure that the fund transferred to DPWH is used for the intended purpose.

It shall specifically conduct regular consultation and dialogues with DPWH and the city to facilitate the resolution of implementation issues.

Moreover, it shall also conduct regular monitoring and inspection of the project.

Meanwhile, the DPWH shall act as the implementing party of the project.

It shall ensure that the evacuation center shall be implemented in areas, locations or sites that are not included in critical geo-hazard areas or no-build zone identified by the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (MGB).

Furthermore, it shall also design and build the evacuation center to be resilient from flood, earthquake, typhoon and other extreme weather events, among others.

For its part, the city shall provide an area for the evacuation center and ensure the location to be free from geo-hazards or no build zone identified by the MGB.

Furthermore, it shall undertake the proper maintenance of the facility upon acceptance and shall include in their annual appropriation funds the cost of maintenance and operation of the completed facility.

This legislation was reviewed and favorably endorsed in the committees on police, fire and public safety, and on laws and rules respectively chaired by Councilors Romeo Calizo and Ian Mark Nacaya.