THE Zamboanga City Government is set to build 12 evacuation centers to serve as temporary shelter of families who will be displaced as calamity strikes.

Dr. Elmeir Apolinario, City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) chief, said each of the evacuation center will cater to displaced families of particular area since this city’s 98 villages will be divided into 12 districts.

Apolinario said the evacuation center will be similar to a multi-purpose covered court with complete equipment and facilities such as ambulance, fire truck, dump truck, electricity, water, latrine, and kitchen.

He said the city government has initially allocated P20 million to build four of the 12 evacuation centers.

The CDRRMO chief said the construction of the remaining evacuation centers will be undertaken once funds are available.

He said the construction is backed by a resolution recently approved by the disaster council.

The disaster council thought of constructing evacuation centers since schools are no longer allowed to be used as temporarily shelters in times of calamities, Apolinario added. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)