BACOLOD City – The newly built state-of-the-art Victorias City Command and Evacuation Center (VCCEC) was unveiled yesterday, March 14.
No less than Benjamin Abalos Jr., secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), graced the facility’s inauguration and blessing.
Victorias City mayor Javi Benitez said the new building is worth P59 million. The P55 million was funded by the Department of Budget and Management, and the P4 million was sourced from the city government.
The new structure was “once a dream of every Victoriahanon (and is) now a reality,” the local chief executive stressed.
“It is a testament to our continued collective effort in building a stronger community that stands true to its name as “Sidlak sang Kadalag-an” and the cradle of excellence where the brilliance of hope shines through,” Benitez said.
The VCCEC boasts a fully-equipped disaster operations center that has a telephone communication system that shall augment centralized emergency hotlines, advanced surveillance technology, IoT (Internet of Things) equipment, as well as rainfall gauges, proximity and pressure sensors, and various disaster management equipment.
On top of this, the Sidlak Victorias Media Production Center will also be housed in the new facility.
Meanwhile, the DILG secretary said Victorias City has been equipped with a vital resource that will serve as a haven during emergencies and a centralized hub for coordinating disaster response efforts.
The VCCEC will serve as the nerve center for monitoring and managing various aspects of city security and disaster response in this city.
“Equipped with cutting-edge technology and manned by dedicated personnel, this facility will empower you to preemptively assess risks, swiftly deploy resources, and coordinate multi-agency efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of our constituents,” Abalos said.
He reminded everyone not to forget that the true measure of preparedness lies not in the strength of the infrastructure alone but in the resilience of communities./PN