By Sam Ramos
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) inaugurated and turned over a PHP19.2 million clustered evacuation center to the municipal government of San Pablo, Zamboanga del Sur, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
The newly constructed facility, located in Purok Matinabangon, Tandubuay village, was built under the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan–Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) National Community-Driven Development Program (NCDDP). Construction began on July 1, 2024, and the project is among the final outputs of Kalahi-CIDSS NCDDP in the region before the program closes in December 2024.
The need for the evacuation center was identified during a Participatory Situation Analysis (PSA) conducted with 22 of San Pablo’s 28 barangays. These communities proposed the construction of a centralized evacuation site during a project development workshop, addressing challenges related to lot availability in individual villages.
San Pablo Mayor Danilo Taucan expressed gratitude for the project, commending the dedication of community volunteers involved in its planning and implementation. “This project means we are prepared for any calamity or disaster, but we hope we will not use this to its purpose, as this will mean problems and dire situations after a disaster,” Taucan said.
The evacuation center, now managed by the San Pablo municipal government, was officially turned over by DSWD officials, including Assistant Regional Director for Operations Ma. Socorro Macasso. The facility serves as a disaster response hub, providing a safe haven for residents during emergencies.
Kalahi-CIDSS, a poverty alleviation initiative of the Philippine government, uses a community-driven development approach to promote service delivery, poverty reduction, and good governance outcomes.Â