BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan ordered the City Engineer’s Office to look into the possibility of fast-tracking the construction of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) building within the Motorpool Compound.
The local chief executive claimed the 252 calendar days needed for the completion of the operation center structure is too long, thus, the need for the engineering office to look for possible ways to compel the contractor to complete the project earlier than its prescribed schedule.
“We want to make sure we can use the building by next year to help decongest the city hall,” Domogan stressed. He argued the need for the contractor to work double time so that the disaster and evacuation center is ready next year.
City Engineer Elpidio Garabiles admitted the contractor of the 3-storey structure is still working on the foundation of the building that includes the underground parking area to prevent overcrowding the Motorpool Compound during emergency and calamity situations.
Garabiles predicted the completion of the project could even go up to one year for the initial P70 million funding but the city’s technical personnel will look into possible ways and means to fast-track the structure that will serve as the city’s central disaster operation center and evacuation facility.
Garabiles disclosed the ground floor will serve as the city’s disaster operation center, the second floor will serve as an evacuation center while the third and upper floors that will serve as a training center and for other purposes as the need may be.
The local government will source out additional funds for the additional floors to accommodate more facilities in one area and facilitate coordination among offices, especially in terms of disaster risk reduction and management.
The local government included this new building in its priority projects under the disaster risk reduction management fund to ease coordination among concerned offices of the city during times of disaster and calamities.
Local governments are mandated by law to allocate at least 5 percent of their internal revenue allotment for disaster risk reduction and management interventions to guarantee preparedness during emergency and calamity situations.
By Dexter A. See