Gatchalian bats for construction of dedicated evacuation centers to end school usage
By Dhel Nazario
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian pushed anew for the need to construct dedicated evacuation centers to refrain from using schools as evacuation centers.
Gatchalian reiterated his call on Wednesday, July 24, amid the onslaught of typhoon Carina.
The lawmaker pointed out that during calamities, the common practice is to use public schools as evacuation centers, which disrupts learning continuity. Under Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 37 s. 2022, the use of schools as evacuation centers shall not exceed 15 days.
Gatchalian is one of the co-authors of the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act (Senate Bill No. 2451), which seeks to establish evacuation centers in all cities and municipalities nationwide. Under the proposed measure, these evacuation centers shall provide immediate and temporary evacuation for people displaced by human-induced disasters, calamities, or emergencies such as floods, typhoons, earthquakes, fire, and the outbreak of diseases, among others.
“Dahil madalas tayong nakakaranas ng mga kalamidad tulad ng bagyo at baha, mahalagang tiyakin natin ang kahandaan ng ating bansang rumesponde, kabilang ang pagbibigay ng pansamantalang tirahan sa mga nasalanta (Since we always experience calamities such as storms and flooding, it's important that we ensure our country's readiness to respond, which includes providing temporary shelters to those affected. ,” said Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
"Bahagi ng pagpapaigting ng ating kakayahang rumesponde sa mga kalamidad ang pagkakaroon ng mga evacuation center, at napapanahon nang simulan natin ang pagpapatayo sa bawat lungsod at munisipalidad (Part of improving our response to calamities is having evacuation centers and it's time to construct one in every city and municipality)," he added.
Under the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, the evacuation centers should withstand super typhoons or wind speeds of at least 300 kilometers per hour and seismic activity of at least 8.0 magnitude.