Highlights
Senator Raffy Tulfo filed Senate Bill No 1652, which hopes to establish evacuation centers nationwide.
Overview
The Philippines is known for being a typhoon-prone country, with 20 typhoons entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility yearly. However, despite these numbers, when calamity does strike, LGUs mostly rely on schools, covered courts, and churches as evacuation centers. These facilities are inadequate and do not meet the necessary safety and health protocols needed for a disaster.
Bill No. 1652 seeks to establish evacuation centers in every LGU to answer this problem. These evacuation centers will have basic facilities and adequate emergency supplies, such as water, medicine, and relief goods. These centers will also be based in accessible locations.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian filed a similar bill, Senate Bill No 940, or the Evacuation Center Act” last August. Under the bill, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will closely coordinate with LGUs during the planning and designing stage of the centers.
The bill also states that LGUs will operate, supervise, and manage the centers.
