President Marcos has signed into law the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act and the Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters Emergencies Act which both aim to support families and students affected by calamities.

Marcos signed both laws on Friday, Dec. 6, in a ceremony in Malacañan Palace.

The Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act establishes a nationwide network of permanent storm-resilient evacuation centers designed to withstand typhoon winds of up to 300 kilometers per hour (kph) and seismic activity of up to magnitude 8.0.

These centers will be fully equipped with sleeping areas, healthcare stations, sanitation facilities and provisions for livestock, and will prioritize high-risk and disaster-prone areas.

The Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act, on the other hand, provides financial relief to students in calamity-declared areas. Loan repayments for higher education and technical-vocational training programs will be deferred during and after emergencies, allowing affected students to focus on recovery and their studies.

Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act

In signing the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, the President emphasized the need to ensure that the evacuation centers sufficiently respond to the needs of people affected by calamities and other emergencies.

"Investing in these climate-resilient facilities must be the norm; for we are not only protecting the people’s lives, but also capacitating our local government units to respond, to reduce, and to manage the risks of disasters," Marcos said in his speech.

"Through this, we are also integrating into the very consciousness of every Filipino that preparedness is as vital as responsiveness. Whenever disaster strikes, we can and will respond," Marcos added.

He stressed that using public schools as evacuation centers, which have been the norm, should now be changed.

"Schools are supposed to be sanctuaries for learning, creativity, and growth; they should not also bear the burden of being makeshift shelters," Marcos said.

"With the enactment of this law, we heed that appeal and commit to only using our schools for the promotion of our students’ welfare and development of the education system," he added.

The Chief Executive called on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to ensure the timely construction of the evacuation centers in priority local government units.

"And that is why the standards that we are going to be building to will be much higher and to make sure that those who have been taken to evacuation centers do not then become victims when the evacuation center fails in the face of such strong weather," he said, stressing the need to redesign evacuation centers based on the worsening climate change impacts.

Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act

Marcos said the law allows the disaster-affected students and their families to have "a breathing space as they recuperate and rebuild their lives."

"This law provides urgent financial relief by deferring student loan collections during and after disasters without penalty or interest," he said.

"It is our hope that this law will help lessen the financial burden off our students’ shoulders as they continue their schooling," he added.

The President also called on the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to extend all forms of necessary and reasonable assistance to students.

"Ensure that the financial hardship of our disadvantaged students will not hinder them from completing their education," he said.