Danao City needs P60M for police station reconstruction

CEBU, Philippines - The Danao City government is seeking P60 million in funding for the reconstruction of a four-story police station building that was razed by a fire last month.

In a resolution, the City Council led by Vice Mayor Ramon Durano VI requested the Provincial Development Council to endorse to the Central Visayas Regional Development Council the allocation of funds for the project.

The matter was taken up during the PDC full council meeting at the Provincial Capitol yesterday.

The PDC is empowered to endorse projects to the RDC.

During the discussion, PDC found the project consistent with the Provincial Development Plans and the Local Development Programs of the municipalities and component cities covered within its territorial jurisdiction.

The PDC agreed with the city government of Danao that the construction of the police station entails huge amount of appropriation beyond the capacity of the local government unit concerned, as well as the province.

Last January, the city's police station and seven other government offices were destroyed by a fire that left more than P6 million in structural and equipment damages.

The fire reportedly destroyed police records section, investigation section and operations section, as well as burned some of the firearms and weapons, including several explosives.

The 19 detainees at the police station were immediately evacuated when the fire hit the building; they were all safe.

The fire also totally destroyed the building where the offices of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Parole, Senior Citizens Office and Public Employment Service Office were located.

The two-story building was made of hardwood and was reportedly built just after World War II.

The fire also destroyed the adjacent Department of Social Welfare and Development building, but it was stopped before it could reach the nearby City Health Office. —  Gregg M. Rubio (FREEMAN)