The Northern Samar provincial government has completed the construction of a PHP7.35 million three-story evacuation center in Lavezares town that will provide safe shelter for 1,000 families during disasters and emergencies.

The structure in San Agustin village was officially completed Monday with essential features that will respond to the needs of evacuees.

“The building is designed to provide immediate and temporary shelter to evacuated or displaced residents during calamities or disasters. This project is part of the disaster preparedness, risk reduction, and resiliency efforts of the local government,” the provincial government said in a statement.

The local government started the project last March as part of the disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) initiatives.

Earlier this year, the provincial government built new evacuation centers in Caragas village in Lavezares town, Sta. Clara village in Bobon town, Bantayan village in San Roque town, Langob village in Laoang town, and the town center of Catubig.

Northern Samar is one of two provinces in Eastern Visayas conferred with the 2022 Gawad Kalasag Seal of Excellence in DRRM for being “beyond compliant.”

This is the highest recognition given by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to local government units to celebrate the best practices of stakeholders in DRRM.

Last year, the provincial government also partnered with the United Nations Development Program to strengthen institutions and empower localities against disasters and climate change programs designed to build institutional and community resilience to climate and natural hazards, to make people in communities safer and more resilient to the impacts of natural disasters and climate change. (PNA)