As Super Typhoon Karding inflicted extensive devastation over Central Luzon and Southern Luzon, Rep. France Castro of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers party list emphasized the need for the nation to create permanent evacuation facilities.
To prevent the loss of life and to safeguard those impacted by disasters, Castro said she and fellow Makabayan lawmakers re-filed a bill on Monday that would establish permanent evacuation centers in secure zones within each city and municipality.
According to Castro, the Bayan Muna party-list introduced House Bill No. 5152 in the 16th Congress and has been reintroduced. The House adopted the idea in the 18th Congress, but the Senate did not take any action.
“We refiled the 3rd reading version to expedite the passing of the measure further. We also hope that HB 5152 would be classified as urgent by Malacanang and the House leadership because time is of the essence so that we can save more lives,” Castro said.
“With Karding’s onslaught over our country, people affected by the cyclone had to settle in covered courts, small barangay halls, and schools used as evacuation centers, that’s why those in disaster-prone areas are finding it hard to evacuate,” she said in Filipino.
The proposed measure would allow existing buildings largely utilized as a makeshift refuge during disasters to be renovated to meet the standards for evacuation centers.
Philippines needs permanent evacuation centers – solon
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the relevant local government entity would choose the location for centers that still need to be built.
The legislation also stipulates that the permanent evacuation center must be situated in a place that is easily accessible to all community members, far enough away from military and insurgent camps to be safe, away from tall trees, dangerous substances, and other potentially hazardous areas. It must also be close to a hospital and built on stable ground.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the National Building Code, the facilities under the proposed legislation must be able to withstand winds of at least 300 km/h and earthquakes with a magnitude of 8.0.
Castro believes that Malacanang would recognize the urgency of their bill and certify it as such, allocating cash for it in the anticipated 2023 budget.
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