President Rodrigo Duterte led the groundbreaking rites for the biggest evacuation center cum convention center in Western Visayas, April 16, in Pueblo de Panay in Brgy. Lawaan, Roxas City, Capiz.
The President was assisted by Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Maximo Carvajal, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista, Capiz Governor Esteban Evan Contreras and Pueblo de Panay president Jose Nery Z. Ong.
The Ong family donated two hectares of land for the bivalve shell or locally known as diwal – inspired multi-purpose building.
Diwal is a seafood shell that is an endemic specie along some coastal waters in the province.
“Before we came here, we conducted the groundbreaking of Pres. Duterte’s legacy project for the province,” said Contreras at the covered gym of Pontevedra Elementary School in Pontevedra town where Pres. Duterte distributed relief goods to flood – affected families due to tropical depression Agaton.
The inclement weather brought light to moderate and, at times, intense rains in the province from April 8 to 12.
He added that the groundbreaking for the phase one of the DPWH – funded project
worth P250,000.00 gives assurance that the two-storey structure will be realized in time.
Aside from being an evacuation center during calamities, the 5,000 seating capacity center will also serve as a venue of provincial, regional, national and international events.
“I believe this will spur up the local economy,” Contreras said in a separate occasion.
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.JBG/AAL/PIA Capiz
