The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has recently provided Bacolod City its first Regional Evacuation Center (REC) worth P36 million.
With capacity of up to 30 families or 150 individuals, the REC at a 3,000-square meter lot in Barangay Vista Alegre, Bacolod City is built to be disaster-resilient, gender-sensitive, and compliant to standards.
Eight (8) buildings for accommodation, office use, infirmary, laundry and drying area, male toilet and bath, female toilet and bath, pump room, generator room, and materials recovery facility are included in the evacuation center that is complete with its own cistern tank and drainage system.
According to DPWH Region 6 Director Lea N. Delfinado, this structure ensures safety of residents in times of disasters and serves as a venue for various social events and trainings when needed.
Director Delfinado said that Bacolod City’s first REC is the fifth in Negros Occidental and is the tenth out of the 11 centers completed and turned over by DPWH in Western Visayas.
The completed evacuation center was turned over recently to the city government of Bacolod City.