Permanent evacuation centers propped

Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go pushed for the construction of permanent evacuation centers per region as a solution to house victims of natural calamities and disasters as it had been included in the proposed creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR).

Go has filed Senate Bill 205 or the proposed Disaster Resilience Act of 2019 which seeks to create an empowered, highly-specialized and responsive DDR with clear unity of command to respond to the needs of Filipinos affected by natural calamities and disasters.

“This is part of the DDR. We want to have evacuation centers where people are comfortable per region. We can bring this to cities so that they will have comfortable facilities. For me, sanitation is very important,” Go said while visiting fire victims who were affected by a fire that broke out on 19 August in Barangay San Isidro, Cainta, Rizal.

The victims, most of whom lived in shanties in the area, gathered at the covered court of Greenpark Village which stood as a makeshift evacuation center and received financial assistance, lunch and grocery packs from Go and supporters who share the same advocacy of helping victims of calamities and disasters.

Meanwhile, Kalinga Provincial Gov. Ferdinand Tubban said that Kalingans who will be displaced by typhoons and other calamities will find a temporary second home because of a newly-acquired provincial evacuation center.

During the turn-over ceremonies last 21 August, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the construction of the facility is part of President Rodrigo Duterte’s aim to build evacuation centers in all provinces and towns.

Department of Public Works and Highways Cordillera Regional Director Tiburcio Canlas said the P34.7 million facility consists of a building complex with a series of structures which can sustain the basic living needs and temporary shelter of refugees.