The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Carmen, Surigao del Sur, has officially welcomed the completion of a PHP33-million evacuation center, aimed at providing shelter during calamities.

In a statement Wednesday, Carmen MDRRMO chief June Jaramillo said the new facility will serve as a safe haven for families — particularly those in vulnerable sectors — during natural disasters such as floods and landslides.

“With an area of 1,250 square meters, the center includes spacious sleeping quarters, gender-segregated restrooms, a dining area, and sinks with running water,” Jaramillo said.

The Department of Public Works and Highways in the Caraga Region (DPWH-13) formally turned over the facility to the local government last week.

Designed to be more than just a shelter, the center also features a fully equipped kitchen, a laundry area, relief goods storage, a clinic, a breastfeeding station, a prayer room, and a playroom for children.

Jaramillo said the center is expected to serve over 2,600 families across eight barangays in the municipality, many of whom have previously relied on makeshift shelters such as schools and barangay halls during emergencies.

“With this facility, evacuees will no longer have to endure cramped and inadequate conditions. We now have a proper, safe, and dignified place for families displaced by disasters,” he added. (PNA)