ILOILO CITY (PIA) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 6 has recently turned over the P48.6-million multipurpose facility here.

The building, located in Barangay Sooc in Arevalo district, has a covered basketball court that can be converted into an evacuation center, capable of accommodating at least 196 families or 500 individuals.

In his speech during the ceremonial turnover, DPWH 6 OIC-Regional Director Sanny Boy O. Oropel emphasized that the facility can be used as an evacuation center for individuals who have been displaced from their homes due to various emergencies or disasters.

Oropel added that the purpose of the facility extends far beyond its physical structure as it embodies the collective commitment of people to safeguarding, as it offers a comprehensive approach to disaster management, equipped with complete amenities.

Oropel disclosed that the DPWH 6 has already completed 25 multipurpose buildings or regional evacuation centers in Western Visayas where 13 of which are in Panay, two in Guimaras, and 10 in Negros Occidental with one ongoing in Sipalay City.

“As we enhance our disaster response capabilities, we also strengthen the bonds that unite our community. Hence, this building/evacuation center is a tangible manifestation of our collective responsibility and strong determination to stand strong in the face of adversity in order to ensure the safety and security of our fellow Ilonggos,” Oropel noted. (AAL/AGP/PIA 6 with reports from DPWH 6)