Tolentino calls for bigger evacuation centers in Metro Manila ahead of ‘Big One’

Sen. Francis “Tol” Tolentino during one of the Senate’s hearings. Senate PRIB file photo / Voltaire F. Domingo

MANILA, Philippines — The evacuation plan needs to be updated and two more huge evacuation centers should be built in Metro Manila in preparation for the “Big One,” Senator Francis Tolentino said on Tuesday.

In the capital region, the “Big One” refers to a scenario wherein a magnitude 7.2 earthquake occurs.

“Kung Metro Manila po ang pag-uusapan, dumami na po ‘yung sa Bonifacio Global City, dumami na po ‘yung sa Eastwood, at nadagdagan na rin po itong nasa may Mall of Asia area, itong reclaimed areas,” Tolentino said on Unang Hirit referring to evacuation centers being built.

(If we talk about Metro Manila, buildings sprouted in Bonifacio Global City and Eastwood, and reclamation areas expanded in the Mall of Asia area.)

“At least madagdagan pa ng dalawang malawakang evacuation center,” he added.

(At least add two more big evacuation centers.)

He stressed the importance of additional evacuation centers as the population and infrastructures within Metro Manila have continued to expand.

Earlier, Tolentino reiterated his call to bolster the 50-year-old Building Code and update its provisions to ensure establishments’ structural resiliency to a massive earthquake.

According to a 2004 study conducted by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, several structures in greater Manila would not be able to hold out against the potential devastation of the “Big One.”

Thousands of individuals are projected to die while half a million are seen to be injured from the “Big One.”

JPV/abc