DSWD's Tulfo says evacuation center in every municipality needed

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo underscored Monday the need to have an evacuation center in every municipality following the onslaught of Typhoon Karding.

At a situation briefing on Monday, Tulfo told President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. that schools are often used as evacuation centers. He added that classes are disrupted whenever residents, whose houses were damaged, stay in these facilities.

"Ang isa pang hinihingi namin, kagaya po niyan, 'pag gumanda na po ang panahon dahil ginagamit talaga mga eskwelahan as evacuation centers, we really need to have an evacuation center in every municipality lalo na po 'yung mga typhoon, flood-prone areas," Tulfo said.

(What we are also requesting, like now, schools are being used as evacuation centers, we really need to have an evacuation center in every municipality, especially in typhoon and flood-prone areas.)

"Kasi pag maganda na ang panahon, nandoon pa rin 'yung mga evacuees dahil nasira ang bahay nila. 'Yung mga estudyante magsisiksikan sa ibang classrooms. Kaya ang talagang dapat po, mayroon tayong sariling evacuation center every time para hindi po nadidisrupt 'yung pag-aaral ng mga bata pag maganda na po 'yung panahon," he added.

(Even if the weather is already fine, residents are still in evacuation centers as their houses are still damaged. Students will now huddle in other classrooms. Therefore, there is a need to have our own evacuation centers in order to not disrupt the education of the students.)

In response, Marcos tasked the DSWD chief to conduct a study on the length of stay of evacuees in a facility, adding that Tulfo raised a good point on the matter.

"Can you conduct a quick study how long does it take 'yung mga partially damaged homes, completely damaged homes, how long does it normally take na makabalik sila, na umalis sila sa mga evacuation centers (to return to their homes, leave evacuation centers)," said the President.

"Pag-aralan natin ano 'yung mga pangangailangan (Let us study what is needed)," he added.

In August, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian refiled a bill seeking to establish evacuation centers in all cities and municipalities of the country, saying that new evacuation centers should be able to withstand wind speeds of 320 kph and earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.2.

Meanwhile, in a separate briefing with reporters, Marcos said a whole range of assistance is ready for the victims of Typhoon Karding.

He said Polillo Island would be prioritized as this was severely hit by the weather disturbance.

"Presently what we are organizing is the airlift for food materials, food packs, water into Polillo because sabi nila doon lang talaga… Right now, those are the first area—‘yun ang unang tinamaan (first hit by Karding)," Marcos said.—AOL, GMA News