Sun| 02.20.2022 | 5:00 PM

Anatalia Azada, 68, of Brgy. Balayang in Victoria, Tarlac narrates how Typhoon Ulysses in November 2020 wrought havoc on their house and caused heavy flooding in the community.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo (3rd from left) turns over the P25 million check – or the first tranche of P50 million MPEC funding – to Maragusan Mayor Maricel Vendiola (2nd from right) on February 15, 2022 at the PAGCOR Executive Office.

Also in photo are (from left) PAGCOR Director James Patrick Bondoc, President and COO Alfredo Lim, and Director Gabriel Claudio.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo turns over the P25 million check – or the first tranche of P50 million MPEC funding – to New Bataan Mayor Geraldford Balbin (2nd from right) on February 15, 2022 at the PAGCOR Executive Office.

Also in photo are (from left) PAGCOR Director James Patrick Bondoc, Director Gabriel Claudio, President and COO Alfredo Lim, and New Bataan Treasurer Napoleon Pinsoy.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo turns over the P6.350 million check – or the first tranche of P12.7 million MPEC funding – to Dilasag Mayor Joe Gorospe (2nd from right) on February 15, 2022 at the PAGCOR Executive Office.

Also in photo are (from left) PAGCOR Director James Patrick Bondoc, President and COO Alfredo Lim, and Director Gabriel Claudio.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo turns over the P6.350 million check – or the first tranche of P12.7 million MPEC funding – to Dipaculao Mayor Danilo Tolentino (2nd from right) on February 15, 2022 at the PAGCOR Executive Office.

Also in photo are (from left) PAGCOR Director James Patrick Bondoc, President and COO Alfredo Lim, and Director Gabriel Claudio.

VICTORIA, Tarlac -- After years of suffering the brunt of destructive typhoons – especially when Typhoon Ulysses hit many parts of Central and Northern Luzon in November 2020 – the town Victoria here will finally have a permanent evacuation facility funded by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

On February 18, 2022, PAGCOR led the groundbreaking of the P50 million Multi-Purpose Evacuation Center (MPEC) in Barangay Balayang. It will serve as temporary shelter of the locals whenever they need a safe shelter in times of calamities.

Prior to the groundbreaking of the MPEC in Victoria, Tarlac, PAGCOR also awarded P125.4 million to four local government units (LGUs) on February 15, 2022. The municipalities of New Bataan and Maragusan in Davao de Oro as well as the towns of Dilasag and Dipaculao in Aurora formally received the first tranche of funding for the construction of evacuation centers in their localities.

New Bataan and Maragusan in Davao de Oro each received the first tranche or P25 million of the P50 million MPEC funding in Barangays Panag and Mapawa. Also, the towns of Dilasag and Dipaculao in Aurora each received the first tranche or P6.35 million of the P12.7 worth of MPECs to be constructed in Barangays Dilaguidi and Dinadiawan.

“As PAGCOR expands the reach of its MPEC project, we feel a sense of pride and fulfillment because we know that our efforts to contribute to nation-building are not in vain. This project will not only help save lives of locals in calamity-prone areas but will also serve as a venue for empowering communities,” said PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Andrea Domingo, who led the check turnover to the four beneficiary-LGUs together with the members of the Board.

Meanwhile, PAGCOR Director James Patrick Bondoc, who graced the recent MPEC groundbreaking in Victoria, Tarlac said that the PAGCOR management is honored to be part of the government’s quest to build safe shelters that Filipinos can use in times of disasters. “Noong nakaraang mga taon ang pinaka-flagship project ng PAGCOR ay ang mga school buildings. Pero sa katagalan ay nakita namin na ang mga school buildings na ito ay nagagamit din ng mga taong kailangan ng masisilungan habang nananalanta ang kahit ano mang sakuna,” he said.

Victoria Municipal Mayor Christian Tell Yap said that being a recipient of a huge aid from the PAGCOR was an answered prayer as they lack the resources to build a modern evacuation facility for their constituents. The town’s local government already received from PAGCOR the P25 million -- or the initial tranche of the P50 million MPEC funding in October 2021.

“We are grateful to PAGCOR for bringing these kinds of projects to municipalities that have financial difficulties in procuring these facilities. Kadalasan kasi kapag dumarating ang mga panahon ng sakuna, sa mga schools at barangay halls lang nagpupunta ang mga tao, at ‘yung iba ay lumilikas sa malalayong lugar para masiguro ang kanilang kaligtasan. Ngayon, magkakaroon na kami ng multi-purpose evacuation center na hindi lamang sa panahon ng sakuna maaaring gamitin kundi sa iba’t ibang kaparaanan,” he explained.

Particularly benefiting from the first MPEC that will rise in Victoria are the residents of the town’s low-lying communities, who are always affected by heavy flooding each time the Chico River overflows.

Sixty-eight-year-old Anatalia Azada, a resident of Barangay Balayang who was among those displaced by Typhoon Ulysses, expressed relief that they will now have a safe and comfortable place to stay if another extreme calamity hits their town in the future. “Hindi pa po kami nakakabawi sa pinsalang hatid ng Bagyong Ulysses, ngunit nagpa-pasalamat po kami na mayroon na kaming matatakbuhang ligtas at komportable sakaling muling tamaan ng ganoon katinding kalamidad ang aming bayan,” she said.

Meanwhile, Maragusan, Davao De Oro Mayor Maricel Vendiola likewise expressed her gratitude to PAGCOR for considering their town as project recipient. “Napakahalaga po ng proyektong ito kasi maraming matutulungan lalo na kapag may baha kasi may safe na temporary shelter na silang mapupuntahan. Malaki po ang budget na binigay kaya talagang matatapos ang proyektong ito,” she said.

Dipaculao Mayor Danilo Tolentino also said that the MPEC project from PAGCOR will greatly benefit the locals in their coastal communities, especially during storm surges or tidal waves.

Also, Dilasag Mayor Joe Gorospe and New Bataan Mayor Geraldford Balbin said the MPEC project in their localities will not just serve as evacuation facilities but also as a venue for several activities such as vaccination drive, and events for the youth, persons with disabilities, elderlies, among others.

To date, PAGCOR has already released a total of P1.74 billion for the construction of 72 MPECs in various parts of the country.

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