Press Release - Jinggoy: Bill establishing evacuation centers for cities, municipalities advances in Senate plenary

THE Senate Committee on National Defense and Security has endorsed for plenary consideration on Monday a bill mandating the construction of typhoon-resilient and earthquake-proof evacuation centers for all cities and municipalities in the country.

"Nais nating matiyak na ang mga itatayong evacuation centers ay matatag at magiging ligtas na silungan ng ating mga kababayan sa panahon ng kalamidad," Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Committee Chairperson, said.

Estrada noted an assessment made in 2014 by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNICEF, a year after super typhoon Yolanda, which showed that only eight (8) percent or 53 out of the 634 designated evacuation centers in Eastern Samar were deemed usable, while 166 were destroyed and 415 severely damaged.

"The catastrophic damage to these evacuation centers caused numerous deaths and injuries due to substandard construction, extreme winds, and surges. Ayaw po nating maulit ito," the seasoned lawmaker said in his sponsorship speech.

Senate Bill No. 2451 or the proposed "Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act" under Committee Report No. 139 seeks to put up permanent, disaster-resilient, fully-equipped evacuation centers for all cities and municipalities in the country.

The bill also sets minimum standards for essential facilities and conditions, ensuring that these centers are located in safe and accessible areas, and can withstand super typhoons with wind speeds of at least 300 kilometers per hour and seismic activity of at least 8.0 magnitude.

It also mandates the inclusion of amenities such as sleeping quarters, shower and toilet facilities, kitchen and food preparation and dining areas, a health care station, women and child-friendly spaces, standby power for lighting, and operation of medical and communication equipment, among others, to guarantee humane living conditions for evacuees.

"Bukod sa pagsisiguro ng pagiging ligtas ng mga evacuation centers sa panahon ng kalamidad, dilubyo o public health crises, dapat rin na matiyak na disente ang pasilidad ng mga ito," Estrada said.

Reports indicate that only about 62 percent of local government units (LGUs) have evacuation centers with minimum facilities, and