Speaker Martin Romualdez and President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. during relief operations and the distribution of aid to quake-affected areas in Abra.
Romualdezes, Acidre push for evacuation centers
In every city, municipality
WITH the Philippines being constantly hit by catastrophic disasters, members of the House of Representatives, at the onset of the 19th Congress, have filed a measure that would make temporary shelters always available for Filipinos.
Speaker Martin G. Romualdez, House Committee on Accounts Chairperson Rep. Yedda Maria K. Romualdez (Party-list, Tingog) and Rep. Jude Acidre (Party-list, Tingog) have filed House Bill (HB) 16 to establish evacuation centers in every city and municipality that would offer accommodations for people who have been displaced from their homes due to natural or man-made disasters.
The explanatory note to HB 16 stated that “seeking temporary solutions to the displacement of families by using schools as evacuation centers must be stopped.” “There should be no tradeoff between protecting lives and the education of students. The provision of adequate evacuation centers is of invaluable importance during cataclysmic times,” it added.
To save government expenses, the measure provides that existing structures that could be upgraded to effectively serve as evacuation centers would be designated as such in compliance with the local government unit (LGU) concerned.
The LGUs would be responsible for the operation, supervision and management of these evacuation centers.
Additionally, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Science and Technology, will determine the design specifications, cost estimates and construction details of the evacuation centers.
HB 16 has already been referred to the Committee on Disaster Resilience to be deliberated upon by the legislators.
