DSWD Sec Tulfo asks for additional evacuation centers to avoid using schools as evacuation centers during calamities.
As had been commonly practiced, public schools serve as evacuation centers after every natural or man-made disaster. This puts the lives of schoolchildren at risk for acquiring communicable disease that could arise from cramped environs and inadequate hygiene facilities.
Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo informed President Marcos that classes are often disrupted whenever evacuees, whose homes were damaged, stay in schools, GMA News reported.
Tulfo gave this assessment following the onslaught of super typhoon Karding, which caused cancellation of classes and government work in Central Luzon and NCR.
“Ang isa pang hinihingi namin, kagaya po niyan, 'pag gumanda na po ang panahon dahil ginagamit talaga mga eskwelahan as evacuation centers, we really need to have an evacuation center in every municipality lalo na po 'yung mga typhoon, flood-prone areas," Tulfo said.
"Kasi pag maganda na ang panahon, nandoon pa rin 'yung mga evacuees dahil nasira ang bahay nila. 'Yung mga estudyante magsisiksikan sa ibang classrooms. Kaya ang talagang dapat po, mayroon tayong sariling evacuation center every time para hindi po nadidisrupt 'yung pag-aaral ng mga bata pag maganda na po 'yung panahon," he added.
In response, Marcos instructed Tulfo to study the length of time evacuees stay in public schools as temporary shelters.
"Can you conduct a quick study how long does it take 'yung mga partially damaged homes, completely damaged homes, how long does it normally take na makabalik sila, na umalis sila sa mga evacuation centers,” Marcos said.
"Pag-aralan natin ano 'yung mga pangangailangan,” he added.
Last August, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian refiled a bill seeking to establish evacuation centers in all cities and municipalities across the country, saying that new evacuation centers should be able to withstand wind speeds of 320 kilometers per hour (kph) and earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.2.
Marcos said a whole range of assistance is ready for the victims of Typhoon Karding.
He pointed out that Polillo Island would be prioritized as this was severely hit by the weather disturbance.
"Presently what we are organizing is the airlift of food materials, food packs, water into Polillo because sabi nila doon lang talaga… Right now, those are the first areas — ‘yun ang unang tinamaan," Marcos said.
Tags: #DSWD, #evacuation centers