BAGULIN, La Union, Philippines — Residents forced to flee rising floodwaters and landslides will soon have a safer place to turn to as the town of Bagulin breaks ground on the first Ligtas Pinoy Center (LPC) in the Ilocos Region on November 10, 2026, in Barangay Suyo.
Civil Defense Administrator Undersecretary Harold N. Cabreros leads the groundbreaking ceremony, alongside Bagulin Mayor Virgilio C. Flor, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 1 Acting Regional Director and Deputy Administrator for Operations Assistant Secretary Laurence E. Mina, and Department of Public Works and Highways Region 1 Regional Director Engr. Robert Jay N. Panaligan. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing also marks the formal agreement for the construction of the facility.
Worth P71.64 million and funded under the General Appropriations Act (GAA), the facility will feature a healthcare station, sleeping quarters, sanitation facilities, and a designated area for livestock and pets, providing essential services to families displaced by disasters. Bagulin was identified as a Rank 1 Priority Local Government Unit due to its high disaster risk, based on the LPC Prioritization Scorecard, which considers hazard exposure, vulnerability, coping capacity, disaster frequency, and local government readiness.
“Let us use this facility responsibly and take good care of it, as it will be of great help, especially during times of calamity. Let us remember that ensuring public safety is not solely the responsibility of the government but of everyone,” Mayor Virgilio Flor said.
“This facility means a lot to us. In the past months, when the river overflowed due to a typhoon, we had to evacuate residents to the municipal covered court. We have also experienced landslides in our area. This facility will be a great help not only to our barangay but also to other barangays,” said Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President and Suyo Barangay Chairman Ruben L. Camarao.
Meanwhile, in a message conveyed by Executive Assistant Denver Badua, Gov. Mario Eduardo C. Ortega underscored the importance of having a sturdy and well-equipped facility that will serve as a safe refuge for residents during calamities. He also acknowledged the national government’s support in establishing the facility in the province.
The initiative also aligns with the priorities of Gov. Mario’s administration, which continues to strengthen disaster preparedness, particularly following the typhoons that affected the province in recent months. During these calamities, the Provincial Government of La Union provided heavy equipment to assist in clearing landslide-affected areas in the said municipality.
According to USec. Cabreros, only 18 projects nationwide were approved this year, with Bagulin among the first to qualify after meeting the required criteria.
The Ligtas Pinoy Center Program is implemented under Republic Act No. 12076, or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on December 6, 2024, through the collaboration of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and local government units. On June 30, 2026, these agencies and the local governments of Bagulin and Bangar signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) during the Second Quarter Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Full Council Meeting.
The construction of the project is set to commence this month and is targeted for completion in 2027.
