New school building-cum-evacuation center in Leyte

TANAUAN, Leyte—Ten-year-old Giselle Boco and her family sought refuge in her school during the onslaught of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” in November 2013.

But the building of the Tanauan II Central School where her family and other residents of Barangay Canramos were staying, was no match to the storm surges generated by the strongest typhoon to hit land.

It was destroyed, killing two children in the process.

Almost two years later, the building has been replaced by studier structure that can withstand a typhoon with wind velocity of 300 kilometers per hour.

The evacuation center-cum-school building was formally inaugurated right inside the school campus on Aug. 19.

The construction was made possible through the efforts of the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation (PDRF), United Methodist Committee on Relief, and US-Philippines Society.

“Of course, we are not wishing for another Yolanda. But with this building, we are assured that we have a place to run to when a strong typhoon hit us again,” said Boco, a Grade 5 pupil.

Canramos, located within the town proper facing the Embarkadero River, has a population of more than 3,000.

Rene Meily, PDRF president, said they were glad to put up a school building which would function also as an evacuation center if the need arises.

He said the facility is equipped with its own generator set, a water tank and comfort rooms.

The four-classroom, two-story building was constructed in March and was finished two weeks ago. Each room has floor area of 70 square meters.

“It’s really important to make them safe,” Meiley said.

Henry Howard, CEO of the US-Philippines Society, said that while he did not wish that another catastrophe similar to Yolanda would hit Tanauan again, at least they now have a place where they could take shelter.

“I pray to God that there will be no catastrophe like Yolanda and if there will be, this evacuation center will become refuge of the people,” Howard said.

Town Mayor Pelagio Tecson Jr. said the facility built by the PDRF is now among the 10 permanent evacuation centers identified by the local government.

Meantime, a similar facility broke ground inside the 4-hectare San Jose Central School in Barangay San Jose, Tacloban City, on Aug. 19.

During the onslaught of Yolanda, thousands of families took shelter at the said school wherein 123 of its students perished.

School principal Monina Gabrino expressed gratitude to the PDRF for choosing her school in the construction of a four-room, two-story building.

In the same occasion, another two-story building of the school repaired by the PDRF was reopened. The building is being used by Grade 6 pupils, and houses a library, a clinic and the principal’s office.