DPWH completes P33-M evacuation center in Surigao Sur
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
CARMEN, Surigao del Sur (PIA) – The municipality of Carmen in Surigao del Sur now houses a newly completed regional evacuation center, recently turned over by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Caraga.
This facility served as a landmark toward building a disaster-resilient community in the town that is set to benefit over 2,693 families from eight barangays that are frequently affected by floods, landslides, and other common natural disasters.
Built on a 1,250-square-meter lot (50m x 29m), the facility is designed for comfort, safety, and functionality. Key features included the following: spacious sleeping area, gender-segregated comfort rooms with showers, sinks, and faucets, kitchen with complete fixtures and cabinets, dining and laundry areas, storage for relief goods, clinic and breastfeeding room, prayer room; and children’s play area.
As a multi-purpose structure, the facility featured a stage, basketball court, and bleachers, making it ideal for community events and recreational activities when not in use for disaster response.
According to DPWH Caraga, the project, with a total cost of P33, 802.863.16, was funded under the FY 2023 Regular Infrastructure Program, with construction that started on December 29, 2023, and was completed on December 31, 2024.
“This is more than just a building,” said June E. Jaramillo, chief of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office of Carmen. “It’s a safe space for displaced families, a symbol of hope and preparedness.”
He shared that for many years, evacuees were forced to take temporary shelter in overcrowded schools, barangay halls, and covered courts, often at the expense of comfort, health, and safety. These conditions were especially difficult for vulnerable sectors such as persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, pregnant women, and young children.
“I believe that one reason why some individuals hesitate to evacuate is the lack of decent shelter,” said Sharon A. Tisang, municipal social welfare and development officer. “Now, with this new, spacious, and well-equipped center, we can finally provide our constituents with the dignified shelter they deserve.”
The turnover ceremony was attended by Project Engineer Irewil D. Flores of DPWH Caraga, local officials from LGU Carmen, and representatives from the Civil Society Organization Federation of Carmen, a strong testament to collective action and shared responsibility in disaster preparedness.
This milestone reaffirmed the commitment of both national agencies and the local government to safeguard lives, especially in the face of an increasingly unpredictable climate. With this new center in place, Carmen is now better equipped to protect, serve, and rise stronger in times of crisis.
Carmen is the second smallest municipality in Surigao del Sur, both in land area and population, yet it plays a significant role as a northern gateway to the province. Despite its limitations in land area and people, the municipality is steadily advancing in disaster preparedness and community resilience, highlighted by the recent completion of the regional evacuation center. (NGPB, PIA Surigao del Sur with a report from DPWH Caraga)
