The need for permanent evacuation sites has again been highlighted by the super typhoon Julian barreling across North Luzon and affecting other regions over the weekend. Several areas in North Luzon have declared a state of calamity after winds of typhoon signal no. 4 was raised.
We are familiar with the damages brought by such a typhoon, one of them to properties, especially the houses that stand on dangerous grounds like near a river or the sea, along mountainsides where landslides can occur, or near a volcano.
Every time there is a typhoon, people who live in areas that are considered dangerous or in the path of the wind and rain, or of a volcanic eruption are evacuated to safer grounds. These are usually in public school campuses or gyms, or even in open areas beside a government facility, where tents become the private rooms sheltering families.
Many times, the presence of evacuees in school campuses has been cited as a reason for canceling classes, or disturbing the learning process when classes resume.
Senate Bill (SB) No. 2451, or the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, mandates the establishment of evacuation centers in all cities and municipalities. It seeks to provide immediate accommodation for people temporarily displaced from their homes due to typhoons or other natural disasters. It was approved on third and final reading by the Senate early this week.
It was filed in September 2023 by Senators Christopher Go, Sherwin Gatchalian, Manuel Lapid, Raffy Tulfo, Mark Villar, Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon Revilla Jr., Joel Villanueva, Cynthia Villar, and Loren Legarda.
Senator Gatchalian, who heads the Senate Committee on Basic Education, pointed out that the permanent evacuation sites will help put an end to the practice of using classrooms as temporary shelters. He said this practice often disrupts learning continuity.
“During any disaster, like the typhoon the country is experiencing right now, it will be easier for affected residents to evacuate if they have a permanent safe shelter. It will also speed up the process for local governments in ensuring the safety of their constituents,” he said.
After the Senate approved the Ligtas Pinoy Center Act on third and final reading on Sept. 23, 2024, Gatchalian said cities and municipalities across the country are now one step closer to having dedicated evacuation centers.
The bill also mandates the specifications of the evacuation centers – that these should be able to withstand wind speeds of at least 300 kilometers per hour and seismic activity of at least 8.0 magnitude. It also requires facilities such as sleeping quarters, separate showers and toilets for men and women, food preparation and dining areas, and women-child-friendly spaces.
“The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), through its secretariat, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), shall be the lead implementing agency of this Act,” the bill states.
The agency shall also draw up a priority list of local government units (LGUs) that need evacuation centers and also check on existing structures that can be converted into such a facility.
The regular visits of about 20 typhoons a year, and the increased strength of its winds and amount of rainfall, should hasten the passage into law of Senate Bill No. 2451. Congress must prioritize the establishment of permanent facilities where people can take temporary shelter from typhoons as a key factor in disaster preparedness."