METRO CORNER By ERIK ESPINA Erik Espina Back in 1986, I had the fortune to travel and study with 10 Filipinos in the United States under a program sponsored by the State Department. Next to classroom instruction in Sanggamon University, Springfields, Illinois, we were exposed to various forms of governance at various levels — county, commission, state, and federal government. Our final stop was Washington, DC, where I met and spoke with House Speaker Tip O’Neal, Senators Stephen Solarz, Paul Simon, Dick Durbin, etc., in their offices. On an assignment to Maui, Hawaii, I met with the water district director, an Ilocano-Filipino, Vince Bagoyo. Mayor Hannibal Tavares had opened the city to multi-racial officials. Mayor Tavares showed us their “evacuation center,” located away from city hall and up a hill. There is a “command center” for officials and agencies, with a spacious conference room. An “operations facility” and a “clip-board response procedure,” a room-long console with many telephones, computers, monitors, etc. ready to be switched on. A garage area with several ambulances, fire trucks, amphibious vehicles, equipment for rescue and disaster work. A warehouse (as big as four to five basketball courts) stocked with blankets, tents, ready-to-eat meals, first aid, etc., packed in plastic or cartons. Last year, when I was privileged to be appointed a Cebu City councilor by President Rodrigo Duterte, construction of two “evacuation centers” was a priority program. There were at least 20 restrooms, plus portalets, communal showers, laundry and cooking areas, water tank, generators. The current “evacuation facilities” will not do — basketball courts, schools, or churches. The multi-purpose gym with a restroom or two is political cosmetics, considering fire and typhoon frequency in our country. I therefore applaud President Duterte’s recent order to LGUs to build evacuation centers before his term ends. Taal Volcano’s eruption is a local governance audit and reality check.