‘Karding’ makes passage of ‘Evac Center Bill,’ ‘DDR’ urgent– SBG

FOLLOWING the onslaught of Super Typhoon Karding that lashed at the country over the weekend and which also resulted to the death of 5 rescuers from Bulacan province, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go renewed his call for the construction of safe and properly equipped evacuation centers in every locality in the Philippines and the creation a new department to make the country more prepared and resilient.

“When disaster strikes, those who are underprivileged suffer the most. Their homes are rendered unlivable, leaving the victims without roofs,” Go said.

“Minsan po nagagamit ang mga paaralan na evacuation centers. Apektado naman ang pag-aaral ng mga bata. Minsan naman, kung ano ang available tulad ng basketball courts.

“Dapat maging mas proactive na tayo dahil palagi namang nangyayari ang bagyo at sakuna sa bansa. Kaya panahon na po magkaroon tayo ng dedicated evacuation center sa bawat bayan,” he added.

Go noted that Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo, during a briefing with Pres. Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. on Monday, September 26, 2022, as to the extent of damage caused by the typhoon, had also recommended for the putting up of  one evacuation center for each municipality nationwide.

Under the “Mandatory Evacuation Center Act of 2022” proposed by Go, the construction and maintenance of evacuation centers in all localities shall be implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), other line agencies, and the local government units (LGUs) concerned working in close coordination.

The bill also provides the minimum requirements for every evacuation center, including the location, structural or building capacity, and amenities and accessibility.

In particular, the proposed mandatory evacuation centers shall be constructed and designed to withstand super typhoons or wind speeds of at least 300 kilometers per hour and seismic activity of at least 8.0 magnitude.

“Dapat magkaroon tayo ng maayos, malinis na evacuation center kung saan po pwedeng makapagpahinga ang mga bata, may maayos na sanitation, comfort room, at komportableng higaan po pansamantala bago sila makauwi sa kanilang tirahan,” said Go.

Aside from the measure, Go has also filed SBN 188 which seeks to establish a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR), a highly specialized agency that will be tasked with ensuring adaptive, disaster-resilient and safe communities.

Go also filed SBN 192 which provides for the development of a housing and social protection program that will provide disaster victims better and more affordable access to the formal housing market through the provision of rental subsidies by the government.

Go, who frequently travels the country helping victims of natural and man-made calamities, has remarked in prior interviews that the victims are frequently temporarily moved to barangay centers, plazas, gymnasiums, or basketball fields, which are not suitable for evacuation or shelter.

Meanwhile, aside from sending his personal sympathy to 5 Bulacan rescuers who died while trying to evacuate trapped residents in San Miguel, Bulacan, during the typhoon (see related article here), Go said he would work with his colleagues in the Senate in pushing for legislative interventions to provide social protection to all government employees risking their lives to save others, no matter what their status of employment is.

“Regardless of the status of employment, all government personnel should be entitled to hazard pay, particularly those doing truly hazardous jobs,” stressed Go.

“Former president Rodrigo Duterte had done this before, ordering the payment of COVID-19 hazard pay for all personnel occupying regular, contractual, casual, Contract of Service and Job Order posts. I see no reason why we cannot do the same for those involved in disaster response,” Go pointed out.