Senator Go proposes more evacuation centers nationwide
Published Jan 15, 2020 12:00 am
By Mario Casayuran
As the Senate prepares for the resumption of its plenary session on Monday following a month-long Christmas break, Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘’Bong’’ Go sought on Wednesday the passage of his bill providing for mandatory evacuation centers in all cities, provinces, and municipalities nationwide.
Sen. Bong Go
(PRIB Photo by Joseph Vidal/ 14 November 2019) Passage of the measure by the two chambers of Congress would address the vulnerability of the country to the impacts of climate change and natural as well as human-made disasters, Go said. Known as “An Act Establishing a Mandatory Evacuation Center in all Cities, Provinces, and Municipalities, Appropriating Funds Therefor”, the measure, Senate Bill (SB) 1228 provides for the establishment of an evacuation center in every city, province, and municipality throughout the country. Go said that it is only necessary to build permanent evacuation centers nationwide to ensure the safety of Filipinos in times of natural calamities and other disasters given the geographic location of the country. Public schools are usually used as evacuation centers and the extended stay of calamity victims disrupt the school calendar of the Department of Education. “The Philippines is highly vulnerable to natural hazards, attributed primarily to the country’s location. The country is positioned along the so-called ‘Pacific Ring of Fire,’ an area where earthquakes and volcanic activities are more frequent than in any other part of the world,” Go stated in the explanatory note of the bill. “Hence, it is high time that the State establish evacuation centers in all cities, provinces, and municipalities which will cater to the basic needs of the victims of these disasters and provide them temporary shelters that will guarantee their safety, promote their social wellbeing, and guard their welfare while they recover and rebuild their homes and their lives,” he added. Hazardous events include typhoons, floods, fires, storm surges, weather disturbances and outbreaks of illness or disease that may cause imminent danger to human life and property. The bill also provides for the minimum requirements for every evacuation center, such as its location, amenities and accessibility, operation and management, among others. Under the measure, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), or its successor, will act as the primary lead agency to oversee the implementation of the act should it be passed into a law. As for its appropriation, the construction and maintenance of evacuation centers under the measure will be sourced from a portion of the general appropriations for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The bill also states that “Every year thereafter, the amounts necessary for the construction and maintenance of evacuation centers shall be included in the list of programs as part of annual budget in the General Appropriations Act.” In previous interviews, Go—who often goes around the country to aid victims of natural and human-induced disasters—lamented that the victims are often temporarily relocated in barangay centers, plazas, gymnasiums, or basketball courts, which are not ideal for evacuation or shelter. Worse, some Filipinos do not have evacuation available for them at all, he said. “Kailangang magpatayo tayo ng mga safe, permanent and dedicated evacuation centers na merong sapat na mga emergency packs, katulad ng blankets, tubig, gamot, flashlight, at ready na relief goods,” he said. (We need to construct safe, permanent and dedicated evacuation centers that have emergency packs such as blankets, water, medicines, flashlight and other ready relief goods.) Go emphasized the obligation of the State to be ready to help during times of calamities.
Sen. Bong Go(PRIB Photo by Joseph Vidal/ 14 November 2019) Passage of the measure by the two chambers of Congress would address the vulnerability of the country to the impacts of climate change and natural as well as human-made disasters, Go said. Known as “An Act Establishing a Mandatory Evacuation Center in all Cities, Provinces, and Municipalities, Appropriating Funds Therefor”, the measure, Senate Bill (SB) 1228 provides for the establishment of an evacuation center in every city, province, and municipality throughout the country. Go said that it is only necessary to build permanent evacuation centers nationwide to ensure the safety of Filipinos in times of natural calamities and other disasters given the geographic location of the country. Public schools are usually used as evacuation centers and the extended stay of calamity victims disrupt the school calendar of the Department of Education. “The Philippines is highly vulnerable to natural hazards, attributed primarily to the country’s location. The country is positioned along the so-called ‘Pacific Ring of Fire,’ an area where earthquakes and volcanic activities are more frequent than in any other part of the world,” Go stated in the explanatory note of the bill. “Hence, it is high time that the State establish evacuation centers in all cities, provinces, and municipalities which will cater to the basic needs of the victims of these disasters and provide them temporary shelters that will guarantee their safety, promote their social wellbeing, and guard their welfare while they recover and rebuild their homes and their lives,” he added. Hazardous events include typhoons, floods, fires, storm surges, weather disturbances and outbreaks of illness or disease that may cause imminent danger to human life and property. The bill also provides for the minimum requirements for every evacuation center, such as its location, amenities and accessibility, operation and management, among others. Under the measure, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), or its successor, will act as the primary lead agency to oversee the implementation of the act should it be passed into a law. As for its appropriation, the construction and maintenance of evacuation centers under the measure will be sourced from a portion of the general appropriations for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The bill also states that “Every year thereafter, the amounts necessary for the construction and maintenance of evacuation centers shall be included in the list of programs as part of annual budget in the General Appropriations Act.” In previous interviews, Go—who often goes around the country to aid victims of natural and human-induced disasters—lamented that the victims are often temporarily relocated in barangay centers, plazas, gymnasiums, or basketball courts, which are not ideal for evacuation or shelter. Worse, some Filipinos do not have evacuation available for them at all, he said. “Kailangang magpatayo tayo ng mga safe, permanent and dedicated evacuation centers na merong sapat na mga emergency packs, katulad ng blankets, tubig, gamot, flashlight, at ready na relief goods,” he said. (We need to construct safe, permanent and dedicated evacuation centers that have emergency packs such as blankets, water, medicines, flashlight and other ready relief goods.) Go emphasized the obligation of the State to be ready to help during times of calamities.