Urduja revives call for permanent, safe evac centers

Houses lay in ruins in Tacloban City after Supertyphoon “Yolanda” struck the central Philippines on Nov. 8, 2013. INQUIRER FILE / MARCALVIC ESPLANA

As tropical depression “Urduja” continues to drench southern parts of Luzon and portions of the Visayas, a lawmaker is urging the House leadership to fast track a bill that would provide Filipinos permanent, safe and secure evacuation centers.

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said on Sunday House Bill 1763, or the Evacuation Centers bill, seeks to institutionalize permanent earthquake and disaster-resistant evacuation centers.

“These evacuation centers should be earthquake and disaster resistant so that the victims would be safer. The proposed evacuation centers are a departure from the common practice of using schools and multi-purpose halls as evacuation centers but are still in danger prone areas,” Zarate, who authored the proposed measure, said in a statement.

“The evacuation centers proposed by HB 1763 should also be located in between barangays so that more people can reach them at the soonest time and may also serve as the command center for disaster response,” he added.

Citing the deadly Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (International name Haiyan) that struck the country on Nov. 8, 2013, Zarate reiterated his call to assure the welfare of those who experienced catastrophes.

“Sana ay paspasan na ang HB 1763 dahil mahirap namang maaksidente pa ang mga nasalanta na nga tulad ng nangyari sa Yolanda,” he said. /cbb