SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian is pressing anew the need to construct dedicated evacuation centers to refrain from using schools as such.

The lawmaker pointed out that during calamities, the common practice is to use public schools as evacuation centers, which disrupts learning continuity.

Under Department of Education Order No. 37 s. 2022, the use of schools as evacuation centers shall not exceed 15 days.

Gatchalian is one of the co-authors of the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, which seeks to establish evacuation centers in all cities and municipalities nationwide.

Under the proposed measure, these evacuation centers shall provide immediate and temporary evacuation for people displaced by human-induced disasters, calamities, or emergencies such as floods, typhoons, earthquakes, fire, and the outbreak of diseases, among others.

“Dahil madalas tayong nakakaranas ng mga kalamidad tulad ng bagyo at baha, mahalagang tiyakin natin ang kahandaang rumesponde, kabilang ang pagbibigay ng pansamantalang tirahan sa mga nasalanta. Bahagi ng pagpapaigting ng ating kakayahang rumesponde sa mga kalamidad ang pagkakaroon ng mga evacuation center, at napapanahon nang simulan natin ang pagpapatayo sa bawat lungsod at munisipalidad,” said Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

Under the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act, the evacuation centers should withstand super typhoons or wind speeds at least 300 kilometers per hour and seismic activity of at least 8.0 magnitude.