A bigger and more accessible warehouse for relief goods has been constructed in this city courtesy of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Located in Barangay Camanggaan village, a 10-minute drive from downtown Laoag, the two-story building will serve as a satellite warehouse of the DSWD-Ilocos (Region 1) based in San Fernando, La Union to ensure the quick distribution of relief goods to affected families during calamities.

“We are lucky and blessed in Laoag City because we have this big warehouse. It is our hope to provide relief goods to our constituents as fast as we can during calamities,” said re-elected Mayor Michael Keon in an interview Wednesday.

Funded by the DSWD for PHP41 million, the building is currently under construction on a two-hectare idle lot donated by a 78-year-old US Army veteran and philanthropist, now residing in this city.

The building is expected to be completed in July this year.

During the soft inauguration of the warehouse on Tuesday afternoon, DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista said in his speech, “this will surely increase the capacity and efficiency of the field office in the production and storage of relief items.”

Once the warehouse becomes fully operational, the Ilocos Norte government will no longer need to convert its auditorium at the lower ground floor of the Ilocos Norte Capitol building and the Laoag City Centennial Arena for the safekeeping of goods donated by different public and private organizations before these are distributed to target beneficiaries.

As the first satellite warehouse of the DSWD outside La Union, Regional Director Marie Angela Gopalan said she is thankful that the project is now under construction.

“I am grateful to be standing here after our groundbreaking in October [last year] because it signifies the coming together of the different branches of the government, as well as the private sector, to establish a building that will serve our constituents not only in Laoag City but also of the other province and regions,” said Gopalan.

She added the warehouse can house around 50,000 food packs and other non-food items for easier access during relief operations. It also features a function hall and a staff room to facilitate various training in the future. (PNA)