Gov't turns over evacuation centers to towns near restive Taal Volcano

The government has turned over three evacuation centers located in areas in Batangas, outside restless Taal Volcano's danger zone, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) said Sunday.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, DHSUD Secretary Eduardo del Rosario noted that the local evacuation centers that were inaugurated on Wednesday were established in the municipalities of Santa Teresita, Alitagtag, and Mataasnakahoy in Batangas.

These could accommodate 150 families with four or five members, and could be fitted with modular tents for the evacuees’ privacy.

Also, the centers come with amenities including, separate male and female comfort rooms, shower rooms, prayer room, kitchen, mess hall, clinic, and storage room for the supplies.

As of Thursday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that Taal Volcano's activity has affected a total of 7,237 people or 2,047 families. 

Alert Level 3 stays around Taal.

Asked if the evacuation centers could withstand strong storms, the category of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013, Del Rosario said:

“Sa nakita kong ma process na ginamit ay masinsin na masinsin. Kung pag-uusapan naman natin ay lindol na foundation, ay nagrereklamo nga sakin ‘yung Mayor bakit daw napakalalaking mga bakal ‘yung ginamit sa ilalaim.”

[In my assessment, the construction was thorough. Bigger steel bars were used and could even withstand earthquakes.]

Further, Del Rosario said President Rodrigo Duterte is set to go to Batangas on Monday to check if the evacuation centers were constructed in accordance with the design standard approved in 2018, and determine if more evacuation centers need to be erected in the province.

“Si Presidente pupunta bukas, Monday, sa Batangas para tingnan ‘yung isa sa tatlong pinagawa naming evacuation centers,” he said.

(The President will go to Batangas tomorrow, Monday, to check on one of the three evacuation centers we have constructed.)

On the other hand, the DHSUD chief mentioned that a total of 392 evacuation center projects nationwide were initiated by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) from 2016 to 2021.

Of the number, 299 have been completed, 92 are ongoing, and one is yet to start with the construction within the year.

“Sa Luzon, ang total na napagawa at ongoing ay 198, sa Visayas, 74 at sa Mindanao, 120. So, a total of 392 [evacuation centers],” he said.

The evacuation center projects are said to have cost P14.3 billion, he added. —LBG, GMA News