Robredo urges establishment of evacuation centers for animals

Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo on Sunday called for the establishment of evacuation centers for animals, to ensure that there will be no households forced to stay at home to look after their pets or livestock during a typhoon.

In her weekly radio show, Robredo appealed to the public to evacuate as advised, to avoid casualties from the destruction of typhoons such as Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) which is currently in the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

"Kapag may ganitong sakuna, at nagfo-forced evacuation, may mga lumulusot pa din. May mga lumulusot pa din na ang pinapa-evacuate lang mga babae, mga seniors, mga bata," she said.

"Iyong mga head of the family, nagpapaiwan pa din sa bahay kasi ang iniisip ang gamit, iyong mga hayop, etc. Kaya kahapon ni-remind ko na naman sila na dapat may evacuation center na ang mga hayop para wala nang dahilan para magpaiwan kasi minsan kahit forced evacuation talagang may mga tumatago," she added.

Typhoon Rolly made its third landfall over the vicinity of San Narciso in Quezon on Sunday noon. Four fatalities have since been reported by Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara.

Robredo also urged local governments to ensure the safety of their constituents and to continue coordinating with other agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Public Highways (DPWH) moving forward.

"Parang pag may dumadating na malakas na bagyong kagaya dito parating paalala sa atin. Paalala sa atin na dapat iyong pagpaplano kabahagi na lagi iyong—iyong resilience sa typhoon kasi ito talaga iyong pinakamalaki," she said.

"Mga drainage, iyong mga, iyong mga—halimbawa sa  land use ng mga LGU dapat tingnan na iyong mga danger zones ng mga munisipyo at saka mga probinsya kasi pag ganito, Ka Ely, nakakatakot talaga," she added.

Typhoon Rolly weakened into a typhoon before noon on Sunday, but still poses a threat as a number of areas remain under various tropical cyclone wind signals. — BM, GMA News