THE Valenzuela City government recently opened two more 3S (Sentro ng Sama-samang Serbisyo) Centers – multipurpose government buildings –in two villages bringing to 11 the total number of these vital facilities that had been up in the barangays.
First to have been inaugurated was the two-storey (Barangay) Bignay 3S Center that houses a fire substation, police community precinct, satellite rescue office, health station and a day care center. A tricycle terminal is also under way.
Next to have been opened, according to Mayor Rex Gatchalian, was the (Barangay) Maysan 3S Center which houses a barangay office, police community precinct, health station, day care center and a multipurpose hall.
Other facilities in the compound include a barangay ‘tanod’ (watcher) outpost, covered court, tricycle terminal and a mini-park, Mayor Gatchalian says.
Explaining that these centers were conceptualized and realized for the purpose of bringing vital government services closer to residents especially during disasters, the mayor says residents, particularly those from far barangays, would not need to spend time and extra money to be able to get to the City Hall to transact business as these 3S Centers can accommodate them.
During floods and earthquakes, a 3S Center would serve as the city government’s remote incident command post from which all response and relief for the communities it covers would be dispensed, according to the former lawmaker-turned-mayor.
The Valenzuela chief executive says the multipurpose halls could also accommodate evacuees. The city government has likened 3S Centers to peripheral nerves with the Allied Local Emergency Response Teams (ALERT) Center as the brain.
He says the disaster response complex, which is currently under construction in a lot across the City Hall in Barangay Malinta, will bring together under one roof the Coordinating and Communication Center, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office, and the Public Information Office.
In times of extreme disasters, such as earthquakes, it would function as the city’s emergency operation center, he told this writer. The first 3S Center was opened in Barangay Polo on September 25, 2014.
Since then, similar facilities have been opened in Barangays Bagbaguin, Dalandanan, Karuhatan, Lawang Bato, Malanday, Parada, Punturin and Ugong. Two others are being built in Barangays Gen. T. de Leon and Marulas and set to open this year. GOOD RIDDANCE/ARLIE CALALO
