QC urged to build evacuation centers

MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon City councilor has filed a resolution urging the local government to construct evacuation centers for residents living in disaster-prone areas.

Fifth district Councilor Julienne Alyson Rae Medalla proposed the construction of dedicated evacuation centers with complete facilities to address the basic needs of evacuees such as a clinic, bedrooms, a centralized kitchen, laundry areas, a stockroom and a recreation area for children.

Medalla also proposed that evacuation centers should have gender-sensitive areas for female evacuees, specifically breastfeeding mothers; a counseling area; a garbage segregation facility; and an elevator for the use of persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and senior citizens.

 â€œThe lack of segregation scheme in some evacuation centers puts at risk senior citizens, the disabled, children and pregnant women, who are more vulnerable to diseases,” she said.

Medalla added that the loss of lives can be minimized “by bringing the evacuation centers nearer to the place of residence and located at the most convenient and safe place.”

 â€œWhen public schools are used as evacuation centers, students’ education is interrupted and damage to property is inevitable,” she added.

The proposal came amid reports that evacuees left behind mounds of garbage and human waste in Bagong Silangan Elementary School in Quezon City last week. A teacher’s cassette player and an electric fan were also stolen from the school.