Press Release - Gatchalian pushes for dedicated evacuation centers to end school use

Amid the onslaught of typhoon Carina, Senator Win Gatchalian is pressing anew the need to construct dedicated evacuation centers to refrain from using schools as evacuation centers.

The lawmaker pointed out that during calamities, the common practice is to use public schools as evacuation centers, which disrupts learning continuity. Under Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 37 s. 2022, the use of schools as evacuation centers shall not exceed 15 days.

Gatchalian is one of the co-authors of the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act (Senate Bill No. 2451), which seeks to establish evacuation centers in all cities and municipalities nationwide. Under the proposed measure, these evacuation centers shall provide immediate and temporary evacuation for people displaced by human-induced disasters, calamities, or emergencies such as floods, typhoons, earthquakes, fire, and the outbreak of diseases, among others.

"Dahil madalas tayong nakakaranas ng mga kalamidad tulad ng bagyo at baha, mahalagang tiyakin natin ang kahandaan ng ating bansang rumesponde, kabilang ang pagbibigay ng pansamantalang tirahan sa mga nasalanta. Bahagi ng pagpapaigting ng ating kakayahang rumesponde sa mga kalamidad ang pagkakaroon ng mga evacuation center, at napapanahon nang simulan natin ang pagpapatayo sa bawat lungsod at munisipalidad," said Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

Under the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, the evacuation centers should withstand super typhoons or wind speeds at least 300 kilometers per hour and seismic activity of at least 8.0 magnitude.

Pagpapatayo ng mga evacuation center sa bawat lungsod, munisipalidad isinusulong ni Gatchalian

Sa gitna ng pananalasa ng bagyong Carina, muling isinusulong ni Senador Win ang pagkakaroon ng mga evacuation center sa bawat lungsod at munisipalidad.

Paliwanag ni Gatchalian, madalas gamitin ang mga pampublikong paaralan bilang evacuation centers, bagay na nakakaantala sa pagpapatuloy ng edukasyon. Sa ilalim ng Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 37 s. 2022, hindi dapat lumagpas sa 15 araw ang paggamit sa mga paaralan bilang evacuation center.

Isa si Gatchalian sa mga may akda ng Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act