ROXAS City – President Rodrigo Duterte led the groundbreaking for the biggest evacuation center cum convention center in Western Visayas on April 16 in Pueblo de Panay, Barangay Lawaan, here.
The two-storey center with a seating capacity of 5,000 has a budget of P250 million.
“This will spur the local economy,” said Capiz governor Esteban Evan Contreras.
The President was assisted by Contreras in the groundbreaking.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is funding the project.
The Ong family donated two hectares of land for the diwal-inspired multi-purpose building.
Diwal is a bivalve shell endemic to the coastal waters of Capiz.
“Before we came here, we conducted the groundbreaking of President Duterte’s legacy project for the province,” said Contreras at the covered gym of Pontevedra Elementary School in Pontevedra, Capiz where the President Duterte distributed relief goods to flood-affected families due to tropical depression “Agaton” on Saturday.
The inclement weather brought light to moderate and, at times, intense rains in the province from April 8 to 12.
The groundbreaking ceremony was followed by the President’s aerial inspection on the damages of floodwaters and remaining flooded areas before his engagement in Pontevedra town.
Also present at the groundbreaking were Sen. Christopher Lawrence Go, Department of Social Welfare and Development secretary Rolando Bautista, DPWH acting secretary Roger Mercado, Office of Civil Defense assistant secretary Hernando Caraig Jr., lot owner Jose Nery Ong, DPWH Region 6 director Tiburcio Canlas, Lead Architect Chinky Ignacio and Capiz Halaran Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Dale Bernas. (PIA-Capiz/PN)
