Key points:
- The PHP50m (US$870,000) facility in Barangay San Isidro will also serve 22 neighbouring areas
- The "Little Baguio of Laguna” collective area has over 2,000 residents
- It will act as a community centre and an evacuation point during emergencies
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) opened a socio-civic centre in Barangay San Isidro.
It will also serve 22 neighbouring barangays in Luisiana, known as the "Little Baguio of Laguna”, which is home to over 2,000 residents.
Jomapher Uy Alvarez, Luisiana Mayor, said: "We are sincerely grateful for the timely completion of this socio-civic center which will be highly beneficial to our town.
“Our municipal hall has aged significantly, and with its planned reconstruction in 2025, this socio civic facility will serve as a crucial extension for local government operations.”
The centre will have common restrooms on both floors, a multipurpose open area, dining halls, a kitchen, a first-aid room, storage spaces and a breastfeeding room.
Eric Balcos, PAGCOR Assistant Vice President for Community Relations and Services, said: “We ask that the community take good care of this center as if it were their own home so that future generations of Luisiana residents can continue to benefit from it.”
Good to know: PAGCOR has completed almost 50 socio-civic centres across the Philippines, and around 20 more are expected to be finished soon
Joseph Pedron, Sangguniang Barangay member, said: “This PAGCOR-funded socio-civic center will be a tremendous help to us.
“It can accommodate evacuees in times of calamities, and given its well-built infrastructure, it can also generate income for our barangay and municipality.”
At the start of the year, a similar socio-civic centre was completed in Davao De Oro, an area which suffers from heavy flooding and landslides.
