The town of Catigbian in Bohol province will soon have a state-of-the-art evacuation
center that can serve as a model for the whole country.
The P36-million facility, which was funded by the national government, will be
formally turned over and opened on November 3, 2023, according to former
Cooperative Development Authority Administrator and National Youth Commission
Commissioner Benjie Oliva, current president of the Rotary Club of Pasay Cyber
City.
Oliva said the evacuation center is equipped with complete amenities and facilities
that can cater to the needs of the evacuees in times of calamities.
The Rotary Club of Pasay Cyber City will adopt the evacuation center and provide
various equipment, such as generators, water purifiers, solar panels, medical kits,
and communication devices.
Oliva said the Rotary Club aims to help the local government and the community in
enhancing their disaster preparedness and resilience.
The evacuation center will also house the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Office (MDRRMO), which will coordinate the response and relief
operations in case of emergencies, a feature of the facility which is welcomed by
Catigbian Mayor Elizabeth Mandin-Pace.
MDRRMO will also conduct regular trainings and drills for the residents and
volunteers on how to respond to different types of hazards.
The evacuation center has a floor area of 1,200 square meters and can
accommodate up to 500 people.
It has separate rooms for men, women, children, elderly, persons with disabilities,
and lactating mothers. It also has a kitchen, dining area, laundry area, toilets and
showers, clinic, storage room, and multipurpose hall.
Located in Barangay Poblacion Weste, near the Catigbian District Hospital and the
Catigbian National High School, the construction of the evacuation center started in
2021 and was completed in September 2023.
The town of Catigbian is prone to natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides,
floods, and typhoons.
In 2013, it was one of the hardest hit areas by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that
struck Bohol.
The new evacuation center is expected to provide a safe and comfortable shelter for
the affected residents in case of another disaster.