Cebu to build 2 warehouses to strengthen disaster preparedness, response capability

Local

THE Cebu Provincial Government is set to start the construction of two warehouses that will house relief goods, emergency response equipment, and personnel for deployment during disasters and emergencies.

Retired Col. Dennis Francis Pastor, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said these facilities will rise on goverment-owned lots in Sibonga town in the south and Danao City in the north.

The Capitol is targetting this year as the start of the construction works.

The facilities will be under a usufruct agreement between the Capitol and the two local government units (LGUs). Sibonga and Danao will allow Cebu province to use their respective properties for 25 years but they should only be utilized for disaster response related activities.

Pastor said the site has already been identified and he plan and the program of works of the projects have been finalized.

The province is still working the legal aspect like the usufruct agreement which will be signed by Gov. Pamela Baricuatro and the mayors of the two LGUs and the bidding process.

Each of the warehouses has an allocation of P20 million that covers not only the structure but also equipment.

"Ang usa ka warehouse kumpleto na na sya, cooling storage, rescue room, rescue kit and supply room, admin office, conference office tapos kanang billeting area sa atong mga responders if mag pre-position ta sa atong mga responders.. kumpleto an gyud na sya,” Pastor said, adding that the warehouses will also serve as extended office of the PDRRMO in the north and south.

The project is part of the PDRRMO’s upgrading and modernization initiatives to strengthen its disaster preparedness and enhance rapid response capabilities.

In addition to the warehouses, the PDRRMO has also procured additional equipment, including heavy machinery, computers, emergency patient transport vehicles, personal protective equipment, and other operational assets.

Recently, the Capitol launched a modernization initiative within the PDRRMO Command Center in Barangay Apas, Cebu City by installing a digital Emergency Operations Center platform to have better and systematic coordination among emergency responders, and a solar-powered energy system to ensure uninterrupted operations in cases of power outages.(MyTVCebu)